Liverpool are in the race to sign £23m midfielder who Brendan Rodgers thinks is ‘wonderful’

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Liverpool are still waiting to decisively enter the transfer market this summer.

The Reds are in the midst of a period of transition after losing Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season.

Although there is much promise about what Arne Slot can bring to the club, there is a clear need to avoid too much change within the Liverpool squad. One or two tweaks can potentially still be expected, though.

Things have taken a while to get going owing to the two summer international tournaments. But things should hopefully ramp up soon for Liverpool.

With that in mind, a new transfer target has now come to light, one who is held in high regard by former Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool in the race to sign Matt O’Riley

Rodgers’ reign at Liverpool is not remembered all that fondly at Anfield. The Northern Irishman almost led the Reds to a Premier League title but other than that, he largely failed to deliver.

Nevertheless, Rodgers is clearly a good manager in his own right. He did a terrific job at Leicester, winning the FA Cup and leading them to two fifth-placed finishes.

Since being sacked in 2023, Rodgers has now headed back to Celtic, where he won another league title in May. That makes it three now for the 51-year-old.

A big part of Celtic’s success last season was midfielder Matt O’Riley. The 23-year-old bagged 19 goals from central midfield.

READ MORE: Liverpool will know very soon if they are able to sign ‘incredible’ £38m player

O’Riley has reportedly been on Liverpool’s radar in the past and his form in Scotland has now put him back in the Reds’ sights once more.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Liverpool have joined both Atalanta and Atletico Madrid in being in the race to sign O’Riley.

“Matt O’Riley has been included on the lists of some European clubs,” says the reporter. “Atalanta is the team that moved first for him, but the race for the Celtic player is still open.

“Liverpool and Atleti are well-informed about the situation of the Danish midfielder.”

Brendan Rodgers hails Matt O’Riley

O’Riley has the look of a player who is ready to move on from Scottish football. Having been at Celtic since January 2022, the time is right to make that step up.

Rodgers would certainly seem to think so. Although the manager would no doubt be loathe to losing O’Riley, he also recognises the former MK Dons’ player’s ambition.

“He is a wonderful footballer and he is ambitious and he wants to be better and improve and I am really pleased for him,” Rodgers said via Glasgow Live, after O’Riley hit the ground running at the start of the season.

Whether he’s quite Liverpool quality remains to be seen. But with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that O’Riley is get-able for around £23m, he might be worth a punt.

Let’s wait and see if this story has legs. In Rodgers, Liverpool certainly have good man for a reference.