Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd has praised Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley for being “nothing short of brilliant” since his arrival in Scottish football at the start of this year.

However, the former Rangers striker claims the Hoops will find it hard to keep hold of the Danish Under 21 international because of interest from teams south of the border:

“I think, since he’s come to Scotland, he has been nothing short of brilliant. I think the way he receives the ball, he’s always looking to go forward, he’s a good size. I’ll be honest, I think Celtic will struggle to keep hold of him in the coming months because there will be interest down south, there’s no doubt about that.”

Leicester, Newcastle and Crystal Palace have all reportedly sent scouts to watch O’Riley in recent weeks, while Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have also been mentioned as potential destinations for the player.

Most Celtic supporters accept that the 21-year-old won’t be staying long at Parkhead if he continues to perform to the levels he has shown in recent months, but many believe he should remain in Glasgow at least until the summer.

Any club that looks to make an approach for O’Riley in January will have to pay a sizeable sum for his services. Reports suggest a £15m to £20m price tag has been slapped on the midfielder.