Celtic have two clubs on strings with transfer demands – Entertaining game as they hold power

Celtic have seen Atalanta’s cool as a cucumber approach to try and sign Matt O’Riley this summer and decided to put it through a mandoline slicer.

At one point there was insistence in Italy that the operations of La Dea signing O’Riley and them selling Teun Koopmeiners to Juventus weren’t linked at all, but now that stance has cracked.

As covered by TMW and others this afternoon in Italy, as soon as Atalanta can secure O’Riley from Celtic then they’ll sell their own man to the Turin club.

Celtic therefore appear to have the two Italian clubs on transfer strings. Another report from TMW states Brendan Rodgers’ side are ‘stuck’ at €27m plus €2m in bonuses, whereas Atalanta’s latest offer, which it’s hoped could be the ‘decisive one’, is €25m plus €2m.

TMW explain ‘the Biancoverdi (white and greens) have so far been adamant’, and they say there’s even rumours Celtic’s asking price could rise to as high as £30m.

It appears that every time Atalanta feel they’ve got close enough, O’Riley does something to increase his valuation and everything wobbles.

There’s insistence the midfielder has given priority to Atalanta over Brighton, and has spoken with La Dea’s manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, over the past few days.

Celtic are very much playing Atalanta at the Italian club’s own game, which is causing them – and Juve – some frustration.