Rob DaviesThe Swans board refused to sanction a small down payment with further instalments to sign former MK Dons midfielder Matt O’Riley prior to his move to Celtic.
According to Wales Online, the American owners would not agree to the deal despite the sums being discussed meaning a significantly knocked down initial fee to sign the player.
O’Riley was touted with a move to SA1 throughout and in the lead up to January and despite Russell Martin and his team pointing to the success of Joel Piroe and Flynn Downes’ since their arrival in the summer, it wasn’t enough to convince the owners to part with the funds needed.
The fees suggested for the midfielder would have seen a £300k down payment in January with instalments following in the next four windows to take the total to £1.2m.
For a midfielder who has earned two Man of the Match awards in Scotland already, that seems more than reasonable especially for someone who Martin was extremely keen to reunite with.
A source also told Wales Online that O’Riley was keen for the move but wasn’t convinced with the club’s “lack of conviction” in striking a deal.
It is the second story today where the owners have decided against investing in the squad, following news of a failed move for Brighton’s Ryan Longman.
It’s rarely quiet at the Swansea.com Stadium; now we wait to hear what the boss has to say on reflection after the January window closed.
