Taylor stalemate but there’s a compromise to be had if everyone wants it

The Celtic Star

·09 de janeiro de 2025

Taylor stalemate but there’s a compromise to be had if everyone wants it

With several ongoing issues around transfers both in and out of the club this month, the situation with Greg Taylor and the club must reach a resolution soon…

Greg Taylor at the final whistle with Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Walton after the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on 8th January 2025. (Photo Mark Runnacles)

It would be to the benefit of both the club and the player to know where we all stand moving forward into the future, as the uncertainty serves nobody’s best interests.

Vídeos OneFootball

Taylor’s advisors and Celtic are still some distance apart

As reported previously on The Celtic Star, it has been speculated that the Scotland international is looking for around £25K per week to extend his stay with the Scottish Premiership Champions. That is a figure that Greg Taylor and his representatives believe has been hard-earned by the former Killie man and after his years of service to the club – helping restore it to the apex of Scottish football – is nothing less than he deserves, in their view.

Tierney attended a Celtic FC Foundation event in London last week, seen here with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. Photo Celtic FC

That figure is by no means outlandish – until you factor in the homecoming of our former star, Kieran Tierney. Now it seems as if this one is a matter of when, not if he arrives back at the Parkhead gates and I think mostly all of the support would be delighted at the prospect of KT donning the green and white hoops again. His first spell at Celtic Park was marvellous and he really set the bar where full-backs are concerned.

Therein lies the problem for Greg Taylor; despite all of his efforts in helping restore Celtic from the doldrums a few years back under Ange Postecoglou and prove pivotal in our success since, he feels as though he is always in the shadow of our former star. That’s not the fault of anyone though. Sometimes in football, as in life, you play the hand your dealt. And if truth be told, it isn’t a bad hand really, is it?

Celtic’s Greg Taylor in action during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on 8th January 2025 . (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

Where there is a will there is a way

In spite of all of this, I firmly believe there is a compromise to be had which can see all parties satisfied with the outcome. Surely there could still be a significant pay rise for Greg under the £25K per week requested and which the Celtic Board would be amenable to? And even if Tierney is returning to Paradise and we have two big earners in the left-back spot, isn’t that the whole point in this process with Rodgers – improving for Europe?

Celtic’s Greg Taylor at the final whistle with Dundee United’s Ross Graham during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on 8th January 2025. (Picture by Mark Runnacles)

Big clubs can have two top players in every position

And with the argument that Greg feels he will play second fiddle to Tierney, I would say that point is wide of the mark. The season is long and if we are in Europe that is some amount of games for one player to be playing. For years we’ve not had two decent left-backs and now there is the real opportunity and possibility to make that a reality and safeguard that position for the future. It’s what we should be striving for all over the team and squad.

There’s a compromise to be had if everyone wants it.

Paul Gillespie

Kasper Schmeichel acknowledges the fans following the Scottishl Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025 . (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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