Record-breaking £25m-plus O'Riley Celtic transfer exit 'step closer'

The Premier League club are thought to be the frontrunners for O'Riley's signature after Southampton pulled out of the running and Atalanta had multiple bids thrown out.

Brighton first made a formal bid for O'Riley on Monday with discussions ongoing over a record-breaking transfer fee.

According to the Scottish Sun, Brighton have opened talks on a deal comprising of a £25m up-front fee with bonuses and a sell-on clause also to be included.

Should the deal go through then it would see O'Riley's fee surpass the transfer deals for Kieran Tierney to Arsenal and Jota to Al-Ittihad from Celtic in recent years.

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While transfer negotiations are said to be nearing an agreement, personal terms would still need to be agreed between O'Riley and Brighton.

The report claims O'Riley could even undergo a medical at Brighton before the weekend.

Brighton have already pushed the boat out on signings this summer with Yakuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter checking in as marquee incomings.

Rutter - who joined from Leeds United - cost the Premier League club a record-breaking £40m transfer fee.