Brendan Rodgers has shed light on the uncertainty surrounding Greg Taylor’s future at Celtic, hinting that there is still hope for a new contract to be agreed upon.
Taylor’s current deal is set to expire in July, and while many of his teammates have signed extensions, Taylor’s situation remains unresolved despite being a mainstay in Rodgers’ lineup.
Rodgers underscored Taylor’s significant impact on the team, pointing to his strong performances in recent games and the crucial role he plays in Celtic’s system, particularly during high-stakes matches such as their Champions League clashes.
Taylor’s contributions extend beyond the pitch, with Rodgers acknowledging the defender’s leadership qualities and recent personal milestones, including his marriage and impending fatherhood, as factors that reinforce the club’s desire to keep him in Glasgow.
Rodgers told Celtic TV: “Nothing as of yet. You see his importance to our game the other night. I think the possibility of having two quality players in each position, I think that’s what you see in the game the other night. We play Alex (Valle) in the semi-final and he does fantastically well. Tuesday night was a different game, I felt, and what we wanted from the game.
“So I can bring then Greg in and you see the level that he played at, how clean he was, how bright he was, how well he defended, how well he attacked. So he’s clearly obviously someone I see as a big part of what we’re looking to continue here and I hope over the coming months that we can do that.
“There does come a point where both sides, we have to understand what we’re thinking, because if it’s not going to happen, then OK, we know that. We can then plan and prepare going forward. But I really hope it doesn’t get to that because I love working with Greg Taylor.
“He’s played, what, about 186 games here. I can’t tell you how influential he is off the pitch and how good he’s been on the pitch for this club, the consistency and also how we play. Both our full-backs are absolutely critical for us and how we operate, and they have two totally different functions and how they work. Greg is a specialist in what he does for us and you see the flow of the team.
“I watched the game the other night. RB Leipzig pressing us with four players. We’re getting five in our build-up. We’ve got different solutions to get through. He’s a massive part of that. So, I really hope that we can do something. Plus, I really, really like him.
“He’s such a good guy. He loves being here. He’s a big voice in the changing room. Every single day in training, he’s so good. He’s focused. He’s just married. He’ll be a father later on in the year as well. So, we want him to really settle down and get everything ready for him. I just want to continue working with him for as long as I possibly can.”
With the January transfer window fast approaching, the possibility of Taylor signing a pre-contract with another club looms larger.
This adds urgency to Celtic’s efforts to lock down the dependable left-back, and if an agreement isn’t looking likely, they’ll need to get a replacement lined up.
The decision over who will start against Kilmarnock, whether it’s Taylor or his competitor Alex Valle, may provide further insight into how this contract situation is evolving.
