As his contract ticks down, Greg Taylor’s value appears to increase with each passing day.
If the left-back’s agent needs any fresh ammunition in his efforts to secure a lucrative new deal for his client, he could have done worse than reference the glowing words of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at his latest media conference.
While Rodgers insisted he was in the dark following fresh rumours of Celtic offering Taylor improved terms to extend his stay, he couldn’t have been more fulsome in his praise of the 27-year-old’s qualities.
Taylor’s situation, of course, is not wholly predicated on finance, even at a crucial stage of his career when he not unreasonably hopes his next contract will be his most rewarding yet.
For the Scotland international, there is also the prospect of ensuring he continues to play regular first-team football in the face of prodigal son Kieran Tierney’s imminent return from Arsenal this summer.
On both counts, Rodgers has sympathy for Taylor’s situation but also believes the player can still find fulfilment on and off the pitch should he decide to stay with the Scottish champions.
Brendan Rodgers says he has always wanted Greg Taylor to sign a new contract with Celtic
Taylor impressed his manager with an outstanding performance against Kilmarnock last week
Celtic’s players prepare for their Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone at Hampden
‘Somebody showed me a headline (about a new deal for Taylor) yesterday and I was hoping it was really true,’ said Rodgers. ‘But I don’t know of anything.
‘I’ve said all along he’s a player I want to keep here but that bit of it is out of my hands now. We just continue to work with him and never give up hope, because there is still a bit of time left until the end of the season.
‘You saw Greg’s performance against Kilmarnock last week. He was so good. In terms of that role, that inverted full-back position, it was as good as I have seen it played.
‘When you play teams who are man-to-man, you need to have mobility, players who can find space, be clever and know when to be inside and when to be outside.
‘We spoke to Greg about it in pre-season, about him finding that No 10 position at times, and Reo Hatate scored a brilliant goal from Greg doing that last week.
‘He is such a fantastic player, but he is more than that. He is very instrumental off the field, a big personality in the changing room and his character fits this club.
‘He is up for every single game we play, he is in tune with what being a Celtic player is about. His game is perfect for how we work and how we play, which is why I want to keep him here.
‘Listen, he knows how we all feel about him here but it’s a big decision at 27. If you commit, you are committing for four or five years and pretty much saying this is your big contract here. He has every right to take his time and try and get his value met.
‘The big thing for Greg is playing, of course. We have obviously got Kieran coming back but it’s a long season now and you still need a really good squad.
‘Kieran plays his role. It’s a different type of role to Greg, although he can also do that, he can jump on the inside and be outside. I was in contact with Kieran during the week and told him our wingers are very scared now! Because he’s playing on the left and the right.
‘He has different strengths and qualities. When you are trying to build a squad, you are trying to have different strengths within it.
‘Kieran has pace and power and running ability. He also has a passion for the club and can’t wait to be here. But we also need a squad of players and it can dovetail perfectly with someone like Greg.’
Taylor’s immediate focus will be on adding to the 10 major honours he has won with Celtic since joining them from Kilmarnock in 2019.
He has played his part in a relentlessly dominant era which was sparked by the arrival of Rodgers first time around in 2016.
Now the silverware trail leads once more to Hampden, a venue which Celtic have effectively made their second home having been previously flaky there on big occasions in the past.
They have lost just one of their last 27 games at the national stadium, while Rodgers boasts a perfect record of 14 wins out of 14 in semi-finals and finals over his two spells in charge.
It’s a record he will look to continue in Sunday’s Scottish Cup last-four clash with St Johnstone, albeit the Perth men inflicted a shock defeat on Rodgers’ side in the Premiership earlier this month.
‘When I first came here, there was always a wee bit of trepidation about Hampden,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘I think Celtic went through a period where it was difficult in semi-finals and finals.
‘We sit here today as a football club and the feeling is that we will win at Hampden. Whether you do or not, the feeling and the mentality is that we have a feeling that we can go there and perform.
‘That’s a mindset that is now with everyone at the club, with players, with supporters, and then you go and deliver, and that’s the plan.
‘It doesn’t guarantee you anything because you still have to do the work. But it’s much better going there, feeling that you can tip the scales more your way than not.
‘Then go on and really own the pitch at Hampden.’
