O’Riley departure a backhanded compliment as McGregor wants teammates to step up | OneFootball

Callum McGregor has admitted that Matt O’Riley’s departure is a backhanded compliment to the Celtic team but that he expects his teammates to step up. O’Riley is set to depart for Brighton in a £30m deal, which meant he missed the 3-0 win over St Mirren.

Speaking to Sky Sports, McGregor said that the players at the club had to step up to replace O’Riley as the club look to add in the transfer market.

“The guys that are left here now, they’ve got to step up. And that’s what we’re about. It’s a squad game.

“Matt develops himself and moves on to a bigger level, and that’s brilliant. That’s another sort of backhanded compliment for the lads as well.

“When you bring them into this environment, we get them working, we make them better players, and then it’s just the next cycle happens again.

“We get the next get the next one, and we do the same. But like, Alistair said this is about mentality and working hard, and when you’ve got that, then players come and go, but the structure has to stay the same.”

Celtic are in talks to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg and Mateusz Bogusz from LAFC, with a reported £17m fee for the pair. Brendan has said that he wants to bring two midfielders into the club to replace O’Riley. Bogusz will face off against Columbus Crew tonight in the MLS Cup Final before (hopefully) talks ramp up.

The club have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Alex Valle from Barcelona on loan, which would target the club’s need to add reinforcements to the left fullback berth. The club will also look to sign a central defender to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers and a winger, along with a third choice striker.

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