Brendan Rodgers has addressed Greg Taylor’s Celtic contract situation once again as his deal moves into its final few months at Parkhead.
The 27-year-old enjoyed a rollercoaster afternoon in last Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final, playing a part in Rangers’ opener before replying with the equaliser at Hampden to level the scoring.
However, Greg Taylor is now on to ten major honours won at Celtic, making him one of the most numerically influential figures in the Bhoys’ recent history.
Despite the Scotland international’s achievements, Taylor is out of contract next summer at Celtic and can sign a pre-contract agreement outside of Scotland in January unless he commits to an extension in the next couple of weeks.
His uncertain future has generated a great deal of discussion among supporters. Now, Brendan Rodgers has spoken out on where the landscape lies regarding his full-back.
Brendan Rodgers hopeful over Greg Taylor Celtic situation
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s trip to face Dundee United, Rodgers revealed he retains hope Taylor will commit to new terms at Celtic, but concedes that the club will have to make a compelling offer to make sure they can nail him down.
He stated when asked about securing his future: “I would hope so; I think I’ve said it a number of times. He’s so important for our squad, Greg because when you want to build a squad, it’s never just about starters. It’s the whole squad.
“You want a depth to that, so he’s a player that I’ve really enjoyed working with so much on and off the pitch, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat, I really want him to stay. I’m hoping that between the club and his representatives, we can organise a deal.”
“But I also understand, he’s 27 now, this will be one of the last big contracts of his career, so we have to make sure everything is right, but what I do know is, I really want him to be here. I love working with him; I really enjoy the aspect of seeing him every day; he’s up for every training session and for me, he’s really important for us.”
The Kieran Tierney elephant in the room for Celtic
Rodgers’ comments more or less reiterate what is already known in the public domain, but news that Kieran Tierney is a target for Celtic add a new layer to conversations over Taylor’s future.
Of course, whether the Bhoys would be able to push a deal over the line for the Arsenal man remains to be seen. However, speculation is bound to at least plant a seed or two for all parties involved.
Taylor has been a brilliant servant for Celtic, registering nine goals and 30 assists in 194 appearances for the club. A new contract would be well-earned, though he is clearly considering all available options carefully.
At this point, supporters want clarity on the matter. Confirmation is the best practice in order to move forward rather than having a scenario which is yet to be defined.
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