Celtic sent Matt O'Riley warning as former Rangers man attracts EFL Championship 'interest'

The season may have only just finished, but Celtic and Rangers will want to waste no time preparing for next season. Rangers have ground to make up on their biggest rivals, while the Hoops rarely stand still, well aware that their biggest rivals will be bidding to go one better in their title bid next season.

Brendan Rodgers’ men will also want to make a big step up to make a better fight of the Champions League having struggled in the competition over recent times. In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding the two Glasgow giants.

Windass ‘interest’

Former Rangers star Josh Windass is said to be attracting interest this summer after an impressive end to the season with Sheffield Wednesday. Windass returned to fitness with a bang in the final months of the campaign and played a pivotal role in the Owls securing Championship survival on the final day of the season.

According to Football Insider, the forward is now attracting interest from Coventry City and Hull City, two teams who will have play-off ambitions next season. Hull narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, while Coventry fell apart in the final month, not helped by the fact they reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

Windass made 55 league appearances for Rangers, scoring 13, while he has made 109 league appearances for current club Wednesday, scoring 30.

Celtic’s O’Riley warning

Celtic star Matt O’Riley is attracting interest aplenty heading into this summer, and Mark Wilson believes it will be tricky for Paulo Bernardo to replace the midfielder. “Who would you pick to fill Matt O’Riley’s boots? Well, that’s a hard one,” Wilson told HITC. “I had never heard of Matt O’Riley before he rocked up in Glasgow and he signed for £1.5 million. That’s incredibly difficult. The easy answer would be Bernardo.

“But I have spoken about my feelings about Bernardo. At times, he looked like a ready-made replacement for O’Riley. Just the way he looked and went about his business. Just before Christmas, he scored against Rangers. Did he score at Dens Park? At Dundee. Played well against St Mirren. I think maybe the break was the worst thing that could have happened to Bernardo because then he found himself out of the team again and (playing) in patches.

“I don’t think he is the ready-made replacement for O’Riley if he goes and, for £6 million, I still think that’s too much to pay for him. So, the answer is that it’s a tough one. But Brendan Rodgers, with his knowledge of the English game, I think that’s a market he is looking at, which I don’t know if that’s the right route to go down. Inflated wages and huge transfer fees.”

Speaking about O’Rley’s future, Celtic boss Rodgers has recently said: "No, not at all. We don't have to sell. We are not in a position to do that. But of course, if there is something that comes in then, like it happens at Celtic, it will always be looked at. There is not a need to sell. 

"Matt has had an absolutely brilliant season for us and it is great testament to his professionalism and how he has developed as a football player. Then naturally, those players will attract attention. If you have done well, and done well at a club of this status and pressure then naturally the attention will come. But it is not something I lose sleep about."