Brighton: What has become of former OM flop Matt O’Riley?

Although his loan spell at OM was terminated this winter after six months on the Canebière, Matt O’Riley is still struggling at Brighton, where his playing time has been very sporadic.

His story began in a rush. In late August 2025, when Adrien Rabiot’s unexpected departure left a void in OM’s midfield, the Marseille scouting team pulled Matt O’Riley out of their hat. Arriving almost on the sly in the final hours of the transfer window, the former Celtic Glasgow playmaker arrived with a solid reputation. Initially, his appearances for the Olympique side were promising and his athletic qualities were commendable.

Unfortunately, he never really settled in. Gradually lost in Marseille’s system and clearly overwhelmed by the pressure of playing for the club, the Danish international (6 caps) spent his six months in France as a mere shadow of his former self. His statistics in the Olympique shirt are telling of his struggles, with one goal and six assists in 25 appearances for Marseille. Too little for a player of his calibre, especially at a club where the expectations of the fans – who booed him towards the end – are very high.

Matt O’Riley has been sidelined at Brighton

In the wake of this bitter setback, the Seagulls decided to recall him during the winter transfer window. It was thought that a return to the comfort of the Amex Stadium would get things back on track, but the reality has proved even harsher in the Premier League. Fabian Hürzeler does not seem to be counting on him, deeming him unsuited to his team’s current physical intensity. Since his return to England, the ordeal has continued, with just two brief substitute appearances late in matches. Even more worrying, he hasn’t even been included in the squad for three of the last four matches. A dramatic fall from grace for a player who, just over a year ago, was signed by the south-of-England club for nearly €30 million.

Despite this obvious drop in sporting standards, the player appears to retain a surprising sense of calm. It has been a mixed return, although the midfielder told BBC Radio Sussex in an interview that he was not unhappy to be back with the Seagulls. “It’s lovely to see so many friendly faces. It felt like coming home, which was really nice,” he said, before reflecting on his brief spell in France. “It was truly a unique experience. I’m very happy to have had it. It did me a lot of good mentally to learn to play under such pressure, which is relentless over there. I really enjoyed certain aspects of that experience. I think I’ve come back more mature and more settled, which was my aim. I want to bring some positive energy to the team and I think I can do that after spending six months in the sun.” As you can see, O’Riley’s misadventures continue on the other side of the Channel too.

PSG are taking another gamble, just like they did with Matvey Safonov!

A rising star making waves in Russia, Aleksey Batrakov (20) has been putting in a string of solid performances for Lokomotiv Moscow. This has caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain and raised the prospect of a move this summer.

Having signed Matvey Safonov from FK Krasnodar in the summer of 2024 for €20 million, Paris Saint-Germain could be looking to the Russian league once again. Indeed, according to Championnat, the Parisian club are interested in Aleksey Batrakov, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder currently playing for Lokomotiv Moscow. A revelation last season, when he scored 14 goals and provided 7 assists, he carried the Railwaymen and is considered one of, if not the best player in the league. “He’s definitely a superstar! A fantastic player! We haven’t had players like that for a long time. Perhaps only Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. And he didn’t just play in the RPL, but for Napoli. I admit that this is Batrakov’s final season in Russia. Perhaps even his final months,” Lokomotiv Moscow’s long-serving president Ilya Gerkus told Sport-Express at the start of the season.

An affordable release clause, but no negotiations yet

The league’s second-highest goalscorer and second-best assist provider with 13 goals and 8 assists, Aleksey Batrakov has had a stellar season and his performances have not gone unnoticed. Whilst his name has been linked with FC Porto and Napoli, reports in the Russian media suggest Paris Saint-Germain have also shown an interest. The Parisian club are said to have made enquiries, and negotiations could take place. Under contract with the Moscow club until June 2029, he also has a release clause of €16 million. This is a figure within reach for big clubs like PSG.

Nevertheless, his agent Vladimir Kuzmichev played down the rumours a few days ago: “It is difficult for me to say whether representatives from PSG will be travelling to Moscow. The interest from several big clubs is no secret. The news is regularly circulating in the press. We’ll be able to be more specific after making direct contact with Lokomotiv. We’ll then be able to comment with a degree of certainty.” Will Paris Saint-Germain step up their efforts? It’s hard to say at the moment, but in Russia the rumours have been growing for several weeks.

A technical, decisive and versatile player, capable of playing as a playmaker, central midfielder or right winger, Aleksey Batrakov has a profile that could appeal to Luis Enrique. “He has the age and fitness for this move. If we’re talking about Paris Saint-Germain – and we know there’s no smoke without fire – I think that team suits Batrakov’s style,” said Aleksey Gasilin, a former Zenit Saint Petersburg player, on Match TV. The coming weeks will surely shed more light on the situation.