Celtic explored a move to bring Greg Taylor back to the club on loan during the final stages of the summer window.
As reported by Mark Hendry on the CeltsAreHere Substack, the Hoops reached out to PAOK about a possible loan deal for the Scotland international as they looked for cover on the left side of defence.
Taylor left Celtic last summer to join PAOK, but his name came back into the picture late in the window as Celtic assessed their options.
Kieran Tierney’s fitness has already been a concern early in the season, with Liam Scales starting on the left side of defence against Aberdeen. Celtic eventually signed Landon Emenalo on loan from Chelsea, but the 18-year-old has been carrying an injury and is not expected to be available immediately.
That left Celtic looking at other options late in the window, and Taylor was among the names considered.
PAOK, though, had no interest in letting him leave.
His situation in Greece has also shifted, with PAOK boss Razvan Lucescu viewing him as an option in midfield as well as at left-back.
Lucescu said after PAOK’s game against Levadiakos: “I believe that Taylor can also play as a left back, but right now I consider him as a midfielder because he thinks very smartly.”
That made a Celtic return even more difficult. PAOK did not view Taylor as a player they were ready to move on, and Celtic were forced to look elsewhere.
The Hoops eventually went with Emenalo, while Scales remains the short-term option on the left when Tierney is unavailable.
Taylor was a steady performer during his time at Celtic, but this one never got close to being a serious return. PAOK wanted to keep him, and Celtic’s late enquiry came to nothing.
Keep Reading
