Greg Taylor reportedly looks set to leave Celtic this summer, with Greek club PAOK showing strong interest in signing the Hoops left-back. The 27-year-old is out of contract and hasn’t agreed a new deal with the club. Talks have been held, but nothing has been signed, and it now looks like last weekend’s Scottish Cup final was his last match for Celtic. [Scottish Sun]
Taylor joined Celtic from Kilmarnock in 2019 for £3 million and has played regularly over the past few seasons. Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he would like Taylor to stay, but with no new contract agreed, the player is expected to move on.
PAOK, based in Thessaloniki, finished third in the Greek Super League and will play in next season’s Europa League. Their manager, Razvan Lucescu, has watched Taylor in the Champions League and thinks he would be a good signing for their European campaign. The club has been searching for a new left-back and believe Taylor could fit the bill.
They have already made contact with Taylor’s side to talk about a possible move, but there’s a problem. However, (TCW) report that Taylor’s wages might be too high for PAOK. They are still interested and talks are set to continue, but the money could make it difficult for a deal to happen.
Taylor has been a solid player for Celtic. He’s had to deal with some criticism over the years, but he’s kept his place in the team and played well under different managers. He’s also played in big matches in Europe and helped Celtic win several trophies during his time at the club.
If he leaves, Celtic will need to find a new left-back. Right now, they have Kieran Tierney who can play in that position. But with Taylor possibly moving on, the club has already started looking across Europe for a younger replacement.
PAOK are keen to get a deal done quickly. They want to improve their squad ahead of the new season, and they believe Taylor’s experience in Europe could help them. But the deal will only happen if they can meet the wage demands.
Taylor’s next move could depend on whether another club comes in with a better offer. As it stands, PAOK are in the race, but only if they can find the money to make it work. The coming weeks will decide whether Taylor heads to Greece or stays closer to home.
Celtic fans will be watching closely to see what happens next. If Taylor does go, it marks the end of a solid spell in Glasgow for a player who gave everything in the Hoops. His future now hangs in the balance, with a move abroad looking more likely by the day.
