The exact windfall Matt O'Riley could land Celtic if he joins Napoli as Brighton transfer battle begins

A surge in interest has emerged in the midfielder from Italy and England as the Glasgow giants watch on
Celtic looks set for a bumper payday if Matt O'Riley makes a move to Napoli after a bid was reportedly made by the Italian champions.
The Hoops have already seen the Parkhead coffers boosted this summer by a sell-on windfall after Jeremie Frimpong 's move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.
And the extra cash looks set to flood into Celtic Park after Napoli made their move for the Danish international.
Sky Sports report that that the Serie A winners have tabled a £25.6million (€30million) offer to the Premier League side just 12 months on from his £25million Scottish Premiership exit.
It is claimed that talks are ongoing over the "package" the Seagulls would receive for O'Riley - who is still seen as "an important part of their project".
However, it is claimed they will "entertain offers" if "they meet their valuation" with Atalanta and Roma among the midfielder's admirers, while Premier League sides are also said to be monitoring the 24-year-old's status.
It is understood that Celtic hold a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the deal - which is Napoli's offer was accepted would see just over £2.5million head to Glasgow's east end.
But given the offer is the same Brighton paid for the Denmark star, it's likely the fee – and therefore sell-on clause – will climb.
O'Riley endured an injury-hampered debut campaign at the AMEX Stadium but showed flashes of his best form in the final weeks of the season.
But the man himself has bemoaned the fact he's been unable to play in his favoured position under head coach Fabian Hurzeler - with Georginio Rutter deployed in the playmaker role.
Speaking in his homeland, the Denmark international said: "I am not completely happy, and I am just giving my opinion.
'It makes it difficult to show off when you play a position you are not completely happy with. I can play better for the team if I play the number eight position, but I can play well in other positions.
"You can say it in a way that is not aggressive. If you are honest with another person, you don't lose anything. The coach can always say he doesn't agree."
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The Independent

24 minutes ago

• The Independent

Nicolas Jackson says he is ‘so angry at myself' after red card in Flamengo loss

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The National

25 minutes ago

• The National

Ayr United chairman on Scott Brown, new pitch, and legacy

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(Image: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group) 'I genuinely think a lot of the Premiership teams would really enjoy their day down at the seaside. We market ourselves as Scotland's best away day, coming down to Somerset and standing behind the goals, and when it's packed it's an old-fashioned atmosphere and it's fantastic. It doesn't take 30,000 people for it to feel busy and intense, it takes maybe 8,000 people to feel that. 'And I think we could make a fist of it. Budgets would change and stuff like that, but we have got some really good quality football players under contract already and I have to say, most of them have bought into what we're trying to do. So, I think we would make a fist of it, I really do. 'I hope my legacy at the football club will be Ayr United in the Premiership, and lots of infrastructure improvements.' Over to you, Broony.

Daily Mirror

31 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

Managing Mercedes as Antonelli signs plus Verstappen and Russell decisions made

It's not even midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season, and anticipation is already high regarding Mercedes' line-up for next year amid fresh rumours Max Verstappen could join Toto Wolff and the Mercedes team are approaching a major crossroads in regards to their driver line-up for next season. And with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli set to see their contracts expire in December, resolutions are needed sooner rather than later. Antonelli, 18, replaced Lewis Hamilton at the end of 2024 when he signed a one-year deal with the Silver Arrows. Russell's three-year contract is also due to run out when this season concludes, and the team is running it close in terms of making a decision over their pairing for 2026. ‌ Then there's the looming figure of Max Verstappen, who has long been admired by team principal Wolff but is contracted at Red Bull until 2028. However, there have been inklings he could exit that deal early, and Mercedes face a conundrum in whether they should be the ones to execute that break-up. ‌ After years spent on the F1 throne, Mercedes now faces going a fifth straight year without a title to its name. With that in mind, Mirror Sport has taken a crack at determining which composition makes the most strategic sense before preparations begin for the 2026 campaign. Kimi Antonelli re-signs This feels like the easiest decision of the lot. Ignoring the fact Mercedes need results now and not in a few years time, Antonelli simply seems too promising a talent to part ways with, not to mention the fact he's a cheap expense on the salary bill. The teenager has adapted well to the demands of F1, and aside from a couple of retirements for which he can't be held responsible, he has largely overperformed in his senior debut. Montreal turned out to be a fabulous weekend for Mercedes as Antonelli snagged third place to go along with Russell's win, making the former the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history. That's after the Italian already became the second-youngest points-scorer in F1 and the youngest to both lead a race and set a fastest lap (at Suzuka). So while he may sit seventh in the standings for the time being, Antonelli has provided plenty of reasons to believe that ranking could rocket over time. In short, releasing Antonelli now in favour of a more senior name feels like a decision Mercedes would inevitably come to regret in time. And while he may not be ready to lead the team to silverware in the immediate future, there's every sign that time may not be too far off. ‌ George Russell retained Taking into account the fact Mercedes have been fighting with an inferior car in recent years, Russell has been a model professional throughout those travails. And it would be an indictment on the team if their response to that loyalty was to drop the axe on their current No. 1. And it's not as though Russell hasn't been producing the goods, as evidenced when Mercedes' rear suspension changes opened the path to victory in Canada. The Briton has as many podium finishes as Verstappen this season (five) and now boasts just one fewer win, admirably filling Hamilton's shoes as lead driver. Wolff acknowledged Russell's progress at the Canadian Grand Prix this past weekend. And he said the 27-year-old is giving his bosses "all the reasons" to re-sign him on fresh terms following his pole position, which he would later convert into a win. ‌ "He's giving us all the reasons to do that quickly," said the Mercedes chief. "We know what he's capable of doing and he has been leading this team now since a while. He has the pace and the right attitude. He's been a Mercedes junior [for] such a long time, and we are on track in doing what we've always planned." There's also the fact F1 is at its core a numbers game, and Russell currently costs almost three times less than Verstappen. His reported £15million-a-year wage is liable to grow if he signs an extension but it's still far from matching Verstappen's reported £40m-a-year expense. ‌ That's a gargantuan amount that could otherwise be dedicated to the research and development of a winning car. And in truth, that's where the battle for F1 supremacy is currently being won, or in Mercedes' case, lost. Max Verstappen rejected The much harder route would be to persist in recruiting Verstappen, who still has another three seasons to run on his Red Bull contract. And that means on top of paying the Dutchman's salary, the Silver Arrows would also have to compensate his current outfit for terminating his deal early. There's also the fact Mercedes would likely have to radically improve his wages, with Aston Martin also vying for his signature. Previous reports have suggested a record-breaking amount in the hundreds of millions would be required to lure the four-time world champion. ‌ That's money Mercedes cannot, or rather should not, be willing to risk considering success still isn't guaranteed with him suddenly in silver. Not to mention the political implications given his numerous fallouts with the likes of Hamilton and Russell in recent years, simultaneously rubbing up Mercedes' legions of fans the wrong way. Wolff has rarely shied away from waxing lyrical about Verstappen and said in March 2024 that he would "love" to have him aboard, per Sky Sports. He added at the time: "This is a decision that Max needs to take and there is no team up and down the grid that wouldn't do handstands to have him in the car." ‌ If only handstands were all that's required, Wolff would have recruited the 27-year-old long ago. Instead, Mercedes are better off dedicating themselves to the much cheaper solution in Russell, who is only marginally worse off than Verstappen this season in what many would call a worse car. There's also the major risk that Mercedes would be investing in a star who has already past his peak and no longer has the hunger of old. He has already made numerous nods to a potential early retirement, which is rarely a good sign when it comes to sustaining success. His frustrations have been on display for all to see after spending much of 2025 thus far trailing the superior McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. And it may be Mercedes simply sees more of the same, the only difference being they'd be the ones footing the bill.