Alan Brazil in Matt O'Riley Celtic transfer exit plea as he delivers Dermot Desmond message

Celtic-daft Alan Brazil has urged the Scottish champions to resist any offer for Matt O’Riley as Rangers close in on them at the top of the table, joking: “Dermot Desmond doesn’t need the money!”

Speculation over the influential midfielder’s future at Parkhead has gone into overdrive with Spanish La Liga giants Atletico Madrid making their move for the former MK Dons man, who was signed for a bargain £1.5 million two years ago. Atleti, who faced Celtic in the Champions League his season, want to sign him on loan initially - to keep in line with FFP rules - but with an obligation to buy for around £20 million in the summer.

English Premier League clubs are also expected to join the battle for O’Riley who recently signed an extension at Celtic having become key to Brendan Rodgers - just as he was under predecessor Ange Postecoglou. And with Rangers cutting the gap at the top of the table to five points after winning the first of their two games in hand over Celtic with a 3-0 win over Hibs on Wednesday, Brazil pleaded with the Hoops to keep O’Riley at the club.

The talkSPORT breakfast show presenter said: “You can’t sell him! They’ve got to be very careful because I keep saying to people if Rangers somehow beat Celtic at Ibrox and win their games in hand again it’s tight.” And when co-presenter and former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor asked his sidekick if Celtic would sell for a good price, Brazil replied: “No, no, no, Mr Desmond doesn’t need the money.”

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