One of Celtic’s main priorities at the end of the January transfer window was to sign a replacement for Alex Valle.
The loanee went back to Barcelona after half a season with the Hoops before signing for Como in Italy, who are managed by Cesc Fabregas.
The Bhoys managed to get Jeffrey Schlupp in on loan from Crystal Palace and in the main, he’s been a solid piece of competition for Greg Taylor.
But with Schlupp set to return to London in the summer and Taylor’s contract expiring next month, Celtic seriously need to sign a new left-back.
Kieran Tierney is arriving on a free transfer from Arsenal, but there needs to be a contingency plan for a back-up in the case Taylor decides to pack his bags.
Sutton has ‘grass isn’t always greener’ message for Taylor
Brendan Rodgers wants Taylor to stay at Celtic Park and promised he will be guaranteed game time even with Tierney coming back to the club.
Chris Sutton also wants to see Tierney and Taylor at Celtic together next year and is still holding out hope that the latter will sign a fresh contract.
But the Daily Record columnist has stressed to Taylor that the future isn’t always brighter in the context of the Scotland international deciding to depart Glasgow for pastures new.
Sutton said: “We all know Celtic will try to sign players who can be developed, and it’s a model that has worked a treat.
“But I’d like to see them sign players who are a little bit further down the road in terms of their development.
“Not guys who will be stars the following season – players who can come in and hit the ground running.
“Kieran Tierney is already on board and you’d imagine that will be no problem for him. I’d love to see Greg Taylor secured on a new deal too.
“I know it looks like he’s for the off but until he signs elsewhere there’s still a chance. I get that he may not like the idea of sharing duties with Tierney but sometimes the grass isn’t always greener.”
What Rodgers has said about Celtic’s Taylor
After Celtic beat Kilmarnock 5-1 at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership, Rodgers was quizzed about the future of Taylor.
He was immense in that game and won the man of the match award, however Taylor did not appear in front of the Sky Sports cameras to receive it.
Rodgers said: “I’ll always fight to the very end for a player.
“Greg’s earned the right to make the decision he wants. You see in the performance (versus Kilmarnock) how important someone in that role is, he plays like a midfield player for us.
“We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
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