Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says talks over a new deal for Greg Taylor are now beyond his control…
A report in the Daily Record this week suggested the club has resumed negotiations over a fresh three-year contract for the left-back, despite Kieran Tierney set to return from Arsenal this summer and there were internet rumours that a new three year contract had actually been signed. We’ll take that with a pinch of salt until we hear otherwise. Brendan actually mentioned seeing the headline and joked that he hoped it was true, reading it as a Celtic supporter rather than the manager of the football club.
Rodgers wants to keep Taylor at Celtic for the long term
The Irishman reaffirmed his desire to keep Taylor at Celtic, expressing continued optimism that a deal can eventually be struck. With his contract set to run out this summer, the 27-year-old is now eligible to negotiate a pre-contract with any potential clubs.
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Rodgers said: “I’ve seen a headline. Someone sent me a headline yesterday, and I was hoping it was really true and that something had happened.”
“I don’t know of anything. I think I’ve said all along, he’s a player I so want to keep here. That bit of it is out of my hands now. Until then, we’ll just continue to work with him and never give up hope. There’s still a wee bit of time left until the end of the season. I’ve got nothing to give you concrete on that.”
“I’m just talking through my experience of being in this situation before with players. I’m hoping and I’ll hope that this is one of these that maybe can go on longer and doesn’t go the other way, because normally in this situation, it feels that way.”
Taylor remains fully committed to Celtic
Rodgers acknowledged that no matter the outcome, Taylor remains fully committed to Celtic – something clearly shown in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock, where he was named Dafabet’s player of the match at the match.
The Irishman believes that if Taylor departs Celtic Park this summer, his impact both on and off the pitch will be difficult to replicate. Rodgers said: “I think you see from Greg’s performance last week; he was so good in the game.”
“In terms of that role, that inverted position, that’s as good as I’ve seen that played last week, because when you’re playing against teams that are man-to-man, you need to have mobility in your team. You need to have players that can find space, be clever when to be inside, and when to be outside. That’s the nature of how we play.”
“You think of the times we spoke to him in pre-season when we were looking at playing against Chelsea and Man City, him being in a number 10 position sometimes as well, and the first goal comes from that. He’s in that position and combines with Reo [Hatate], who scores a brilliant goal.”
“He’s such a fantastic player, but he’s more than that. Greg’s not just a great footballer for how we play and the system that we play, and the way we play. He’s very instrumental off the field. He’s got a big personality in the changing room.”
“His character fits this club. Why? He’s up for every single game, and I mean every single game”
“His character fits this club. Why? He’s up for every single game, and I mean every single game. Whether it’s RB Leipzig at home, where he was absolutely brilliant, or whether it’s an away game. He’s up for every game.”
“So, he’s in tune with what being a Celtic player is about. When you look at James [Forrest] or Cal [Callum McGregor], you look at these guys. They live with the expectation. They live with the feeling and what the demands are of this club. Greg lives that feeling as well as a Celtic player.”
‘His game is perfect for how we work and how we play’
“There’s so much more to him than his game, but his game is perfect for how we work and how we play, which is why I want to keep him so much.”
Rodgers believes Taylor understands how highly he’s valued at the club, but, like any player, he’s keen for regular game time. He said: “I think Greg knows how we all feel about him here. It’s a big decision at 27. If you’re going to commit, you’re committing for four or five years. So, you’re pretty much saying this is your big contract here for the next four or five years.”
“He has every right to just take his time and try and get your value met”
“I think he knows what he gets from a football perspective. He has every right to just take his time and try and get your value met. So, I totally understand that.”
“I think the winning of trophies, yes, of course, he wants to succeed. I think the big thing for Greg is playing. We’ve got Kieran coming back in, but it’s still a squad and it’s still a season. Especially now, where it has felt like such a long season, with no breaks or anything like that. So, I think that even more so, you need a really, really good squad.”
“He’s a super guy. He’ll be very focused to the end of the season”
“He’s a super guy. He’ll be very focused to the end of the season. You see his performance level last weekend, having not played for maybe five weeks or something, he’d come off against Hibs and then comes into the game at St Johnstone and makes a difference for us in the second half. Then last week against Kilmarnock, he was really at the highest level. So, yes, we’ll see.”
Conor Spence
A year ago today, Celtic beat Aberdeen 6:5 on penalties after a 3:3 draw in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Kuhn, Forrest and O’Riley with the goals whilst a Joe Hart penalty save seals the victory. pic.twitter.com/Jfwr9OMT3U
— Celtic GIFs (@CelticGIFs) April 19, 2025
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