Celtic transfer news bulletin as Matt O'Riley sees Liverpool and Southampton hit £15m impasse and EPL rivals 'join race'

Southampton reportedly see Fabio Carvalho as a possible alternative to Matt O'Riley - but have had their opening offer booted out by Liverpool.

There's a sense that now is the time for Celtic to cash in on O'Riley's rising stock but they won't be bullied into a lowball sale and have already turfed out two offers from Atalanta. It's been reported that Chelsea have joined the running for the playmaker who is also thought to be on the agenda at Liverpool - where Arne Slot is rebuilding his midfield and sees O'Riley as a man who could improve his options.

So far in England it's Russell Martin's Southampton who have shown the most concrete interest in O'Riley and the latest from The Athletic hints at an intriguing standoff there. It's believed they made a bid for Liverpool's Fabio Carvalho - who they view as an alternative to O'Riley - but that opening offer of £15m has been turfed out.

It could be that Liverpool want to decide on Carvalho's future before making any move for O'Riley. Meanwhile Southampton seem unlikely to sign both - so wherever the Portuguese star ends up could have a major impact on O'Riley's next move. As well as that Premier League trio, Atalanta remain firmly interested, while Inter or Atletico Madrid could come back to the table.

Elsewhere, former Parkhead star Karamoko Dembele is making waves with Birmingham and Derby County both keen to land him after an impressive loan spell at Blackpool. He scored nine times and registered 14 assists last season with parent club Brest thought to be keen to cash in.

The Sun say Derby and Birmingham both want him but it's the former, in the Championship rather than League One, who hold the trump card of being able to offer football at a higher level. However his