---
title: "Celtic: Frank McAvennie makes Riley McGree claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/frank-mcavennie-riley-mcgree-transfer-claim-oriley/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-02-18T17:05:50Z"
modified: "2022-02-18T17:05:50Z"
---

# Celtic: Frank McAvennie makes Riley McGree claim

**Celtic pundit Frank McAvennie has spoken out on the club’s attempts to sign Riley McGree during the January window, as per [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/matt-oriley-pundit-hails-outstanding-celtic-star-after-what-he-was-told-about-january-move-that-fell-through/).**

### The Lowdown: McGree and O’Riley

The Hoops brought in [five](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-fc/transfers/verein/371/plus/?saison_id=2021&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=w) players during the winter window, the last of which was Matt O’Riley from MK Dons.

The midfielder has been a [regular](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-oriley/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/406634/verein/371) under Ange Postecoglou following his arrival, but it seemed as if he may not have been at the top of the club’s midfield shortlist.

[Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-21/)

Prior to signing O’Riley, the Hoops were [reportedly](https://twitter.com/AnthonyRJoseph/status/1481050889196654594) after McGree and even agreed on a fee for the [5 foot 10 midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/riley-mcgree/profil/spieler/428061), who Tim Cahill described as having [‘amazing feet’](https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/football/2017/03/22/tim-cahill-praises-socceroo-riley-mcgree/).

However, the 23-year-old ended up [snubbing](https://twitter.com/AnthonyRJoseph/status/1481050889196654594) a move to Glasgow and instead joined Middlesbrough, with McAvennie now talking about the off-field rumours.

### The Latest: McAvennie’s comments

As reported by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/matt-oriley-pundit-hails-outstanding-celtic-star-after-what-he-was-told-about-january-move-that-fell-through/), McAvennie believes that O’Riley wasn’t Celtic’s first-choice target and was informed that a move for McGree did indeed fall through, revealing:

> “I don’t think O’Riley was the first choice. They were after a guy called Riley McGree but they couldn’t get it done.
>
> “It fell through, that’s what someone told me. Anyway, the point is I bet they are glad they couldn’t get that other deal done.
>
> “I mean, what a move from Celtic. What a player he looks to be. He’s been outstanding so far and he’s a player who arrived without much fanfare.
>
> “He came from MK Dons and he wasn’t one of the Japanese lads who everyone was getting really excited about.
>
> “He deserved that goal last week and I suspect he will only get better the more he plays.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375302″\]

### The Verdict: Not an issue

As McAvennie mentioned, O’Riley has been outstanding so far in green and white. He has already contributed to [four](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic) Premiership goals in [380](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic) minutes of action and is the club’s joint best [performer](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic) in the league alongside David Turnbull. \[[WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/103/Show/Scotland-Celtic)\]

O’Riley also cost [£1.5m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12520899/celtic-transfer-latest-matt-oriley-joins-on-a-four-and-a-half-year-deal-from-mk-dons#:~:text=Matt%20O'Riley%20has%20become,ons%20included%20in%20the%20deal.), whereas McGree would have set the Hoops back [£2.5m](https://twitter.com/AnthonyRJoseph/status/1481050889196654594). The latter has only played [24](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/riley-mcgree/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/428061/verein/641) minutes of action for Middlesbrough in the English Championship since signing, so it actually seems as if McGree snubbing Celtic has been a blessing in disguise.

***In other news: [‘Wow’, ‘Incredible’ – Celtic pundit can’t believe what he’s heard from Parkhead; Ange ‘furious’](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-frank-mcavennie-reacts-to-ange-postecoglous-furious-parkhead-antics/)***