Atalanta Shifts Focus to Udinese's Lazar Samardzic After Dropping Interest in Celtic's Matt O'Riley

Atalanta has made a decisive move in the transfer market by opting to step away from their pursuit of Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley. Despite showing strong interest and making several offers, with the final bid reaching €27 million, Atalanta was unable to secure the services of the 22-year-old Danish talent. Celtic’s firm stance on retaining O'Riley forced the Italian club to reconsider their options.

Initially, O'Riley was Atalanta's top choice to replace Teun Koopmeiners, who is set to join Juventus in the coming days. The club viewed O'Riley as an ideal candidate due to his impressive performances in the Scottish Premiership. However, with Celtic unwilling to part ways with the midfielder, Atalanta has turned their attention to a more feasible option in Serie A.

The focus has now shifted to Udinese's Lazar Samardzic, a player well-acquainted with the demands of Italy's top flight. The 21-year-old Serbian international, who has earned 11 caps for his national team, is seen as a more affordable and accessible target. Samardzic’s adaptability and experience in Serie A make him a strong contender to step into Koopmeiners' shoes.

Reports from various sources across Europe suggest that Samardzic will be absent from Udinese’s squad for their upcoming league opener against Bologna. This absence is widely interpreted as a signal that the transfer is nearing completion, with Atalanta keen to finalize the deal as quickly as possible.

This strategic shift allows Atalanta to reinforce their squad without exceeding their budget, while also bringing in a player who can seamlessly integrate into Gian Piero Gasperini's system. As the Serie A season approaches, Atalanta’s transfer moves will be closely watched, especially as they continue to build a team capable of challenging for a top-four finish.

Meanwhile, Celtic can take comfort in retaining Matt O'Riley, who remains a key figure in their midfield setup. For Atalanta, the focus now is on closing the deal for Samardzic and preparing for the challenges ahead in the new Serie A campaign.