Celtic transfer plan if 'big fish' come for Matt O'Riley revealed as champions already after the NEXT version of Dane

John Kennedy admits big fishes could soon be swimming after star man Matt O’Riley. But the Celtic coach is adamant the club will have a succession plan ready if the day comes for the Danish star to go to the big leagues.

O’Riley’s outstanding form in the Champions League and Premiership have attracted interest in his services with the January transfer window looming. Asked if it was important to keep top stars such as O’Riley, Kennedy said: “Yeah, it is. The model, we know, ultimately, when the big fish come, they come up with the money, then the players might have ambitions to go on and play in bigger leagues. We accept that.

“But it’s just having a steady flow. So Matty’s come in the past couple of years, he’s progressed really well and, when they are attracting attention, it’s because things are going in the right direction. That’s the nature of it. Again, we just have to make sure that, behind that, we have the next one in line.

“We keep bringing them through and everyone looks to a Matt, or players in the past. Jota last year, Kieran Tierney, Kris Ajer, Odsonne Edouard. All of these guys who have gone onto some of the bigger leagues. But it’s a good inspiration.

“Not everyone’s ambition is to do that. You get someone like Callum McGregor who will have had plenty of opportunities in his career to do so, but enjoys being here and now captains the club.

“You also have to accept some people’s ambitions and we do that. But, while they are here, we give our all to them in terms of what we can do for them and we expect the same on the other side that they put their work in every day to be the best versions of themselves.”

Kennedy, meanwhile, insists it’s a huge boost to have quiet inspirations Daizen Maeda and Cameron