Brendan Rodgers has made clear his desire to keep Greg Taylor at Celtic, even with Kieran Tierney set to return to Parkhead in the summer.
Taylor, who has been an integral part of Rodgers’ side this season, once again impressed during the title-clinching win over Dundee United at Tannadice.
Kieran Tierney has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Hoops, and will be heading up the road in the summer. Brendan Rodgers has confirmed the signing, while the future Celtic star’s shirt made an appearance in the season ticket announcement video.
Speaking after the 5-0 victory, Rodgers underlined just how highly he values the 26-year-old left-back. However, he acknowledged that Taylor has a big decision to make about his future, with the potential arrival of Tierney inevitably raising questions about playing time.
“I think it’s really important. I want to have the strongest squad I can,” Rodgers said live on Sky Sports. “So I’m bringing the opportunity to bring Kieran back, who’s a top player, but I’ve never made it clearer about how important Greg is.
“Jeffrey [Schlupp] played some games that were really good, but then we need Greg because of how the league is and how some teams play. When he drops back or comes on the inside, he gives us a number, but it’s not just what he contributes — it’s what he allows other players to do,” Rodgers explained.
Reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding Taylor’s contract situation, Rodgers admitted: “It’s such a shame at this point, I’m not sure if he’s going to stay or not. I would love him to. I’d love him to agree to be here, but I also respect that he has to really think about it because he’s been a starter for so long. He may want to feel that again consistently.”
Rodgers was quick to reassure that Taylor would still feature heavily if he remains at the club. “He will get so many games from me, that’s what I know for sure. Absolutely brilliant player — how he makes the team play.”
As the summer approaches, the ball remains firmly in Taylor’s court, but Rodgers’ public admiration leaves no doubt that he remains central to Celtic’s plans.
It would be great to see the player sign on. He’s a quality player and has proven he can step in in Scotland as well as Europe. If he was to leave, replacing him would be a costly task for Celtic.
