Celtic are reported to have offered Greg Taylor a new three year contract.
The defender will become a free agent in two months time, over the last 18 months there has been speculation over a new contract but the rumoured return of Kieran Tierney has cast a shadow over the issue.
In January Celtic signed a pre-contract deal with Tierney alongside a loan deal for Jeffrey Schlupp but against Kilmarnock, starting his first top team match in six weeks Taylor was voted Man of the Match.
When it comes to contracts and transfers Scott Burns of the Daily Record is one of the most trusted sources around.
Late this afternoon he reported:
Celtic are ready to up the ante and want to offer Greg Taylor a new improved, three-year deal to try to keep him with Brendan Rodgers’ champions.
It had looked like the 27-year-old was set to leave on freedom of contract at the end of the season, with Dinamo Zagreb leading the chase.
The Celtic hierarchy has been in talks with the Scotland international for several months and have now tabled an improved deal.
It would see Taylor get a significant wage rise on his current deal and would keep him at Celtic Park until the summer of 2028.
Celtic have a number of calculations to make for ‘Tierney’s back up’.
Although the returning defender has a history of injury problems he has been available all season to Arsenal after recovering from a hamstring injury endured at the European Championships.
Trying to recruit a Plan B might not be the most attractive selling point, if a transfer fee of £3m is involved that could cover Taylor being offered around £20,000 a week over three years for a known quantity.
Since Tierney in 2019 Celtic have been stung by signing Boli Bolingoli and Alexandro Bernabei, neither of whom were better than Taylor while the 2020 loan for Diego Laxalt wouldn’t have been a cheap deal.
Alan Morrison of The Huddle Breakdown accurately portrays Taylor as looking busy but with little output. He managed 2 pack passes on Saturday for example whereas Scales completed 20. Celtic’s ambition reeks.
Editor: There is more to football than spreadsheets spewing data. Taylor is highly effective, like Ralston would be an outstanding back up option.
When Taylor comes into midfield there are few better in Scotland. He can pick a pass and link up well.
He can lay delicate passes, like the chip for Hatate at Pittodrie earlier in the season.
People constantly moan about his defending but I don’t see it.
For comparison, I think Schlupp was caught in possession five or six timed on Saturday when he replaced Taylor.
I would certainly rather have Taylor than Schlupp.
Taylor and Ralston for the midfield instead of Hatate and Engels. Anyone?
Think you’ve been smoking the Green Charlie ?
Ha ha but why not? Both play in the midfield out of position.
Both are energetic, they don’t hide like the present guys and can make forward runs with the ball.
When you win the league early you should experiment.
You know the story of Stein and Bobby Murdoch. The latter being the worst inside right in the game and I can testify to that, so Big Jock pulls him into the midfield creating one of the greatest in the history of the game.
What about Idah in the middle must be better than we have?
Adam is the midie enforcer we have been looking for. No brainer. And he s ores.
Eh, naw
Hmmm…
If we want the team/squad to be the best it can possibly be, should the club always be
brutally objective – and not just ‘settle’ for sentimental and/or financial reasons,
[within reason]?
Taylor, KT, and even Jota… could we get better players?
If KT had never played for the club, would he even be considered as a summer signing?
KT [has he actually signed yet?] will be out with injuries, and probably long-term.
Why would anyone think differently?
Can we get a better back-up than GT, or do we ‘settle’ for a known quantity:
whilst good, he does have his limitations… as do other players in the team/squad?
Thank you Athletic Club.
And so say all of us Neil !!!
It would have been a penalty if Desser’s was wearing anything but Castore.
Indeed, the ref obviously knew of the pish poor materials. But I’d suggest Baza pre picked it for penalty purposes, or got another of the Hun Direction lot to.
Look at it again. He threw himself fwd adding to momentum. The ref got it right he was diving.
Great to see the rats out of Europe, pity the filth has to return .