“He maybe sees his future elsewhere,” Paul Hartley on Greg Taylor’s situation

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The Celtic Star

·15 de abril de 2025

“He maybe sees his future elsewhere,” Paul Hartley on Greg Taylor’s situation

Former Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley reckons that Scottish players at Celtic sometimes get a tougher time trying to sort out contract negotiations with the club in comparison to the foreign stars who in his time at the club seemed to have no such problems!

Barry Robson and Paul Hartley ((Celtic Glasgow) andn Michael Carrick (Manchester United) – Champions League 2008/2009, Celtic Glasgow – Photo Aktion Personen. Imago Sportimage

‘Sometimes you’ve got to try and appreciate the players a little bit more’

“It’s just because we’re Scottish and we’re not, maybe, box office, big name!” Hartley noted as he considered the Greg Taylor situation at Celtic and why there’s seemingly been no progress on a new deal as we approach the final month of the season before the left-back becomes a free agent.

Vídeos OneFootball

“Sometimes it is and he’s not probably came for a big fee either coming from Kilmarnock to Celtic. But sometimes you’ve got to try and appreciate the players a little bit more,” Hartley told Daily Record.

Greg Taylor arrives at Celtic Park. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, 12 April 2025. IMAGO Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

“And, then if he’s obviously looking for a contract what he thinks he’s worth and he has been a good player for Celtic over that period of time.”

However the issue according to Brendan Rodgers is NOT financial and seems to be related to the club bringing Kieran Tierney back from Arsenal on a free transfer this summer and what that will mean for Greg Taylor’s place in the starting XI at Celtic if he stays.

“Yeah and there’s a good security for him”

But money might still be the way to solve this as an improved offer would give the player, who has recently become a dad for the first time additional, a reason to change his mind and put pen to paper. “Yeah and there’s a good security for him,” Paul Hartley said.

Greg Taylor of Celtic reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg Training Session at Lennoxtown Training Centre on February 11, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“With Tierney coming back, then he might see his future somewhere else”

“But Taylor might look at it and say, ‘I’m not guaranteed first-team football. And, at the stage his career he’s at, he wants to try and play every week and he’s maybe not guaranteed that at Celtic.

“Obviously, with Tierney coming back, then he might see his future somewhere else, but he can play in a number of positions and he’s been a strong signing. It’s not easy coming from Kilmarnock to establish yourself in the Celtic team and he has certainly done that.

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)

“You need two players for every position, that’s for sure”

“You need two players for every position, that’s for sure, and Tierney might not play every game. He’s going to be a brilliant signing. He’s still at a good age but he’s had a lot of injuries over his career and you need two good players in every position.

“Obviously you want to try and play in the best league possible. Your career’s quite short. You’ve got to try and secure your family also in that period. He’s at an age now where he maybe sees his future elsewhere.”

Jeffrey Schlupp with Brendan Rodgers as he walks off the pitch to be substituted for Greg Taylor. Celtic v Dundee United, Premiership, Celtic Park, 15 February 2025 Photo: Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Brendan Rodgers said at the weekend that he has NOT given up hope of retaining Taylor in his squad for next season. Having sat out games for a number of weeks as Jeffrey Schlupp was given his chance, Taylor started on Saturday against his old club and was named MOTM in what was an emotional day for the Taylor family with the proud dad bringing his daughter out with the team ahead of kick-off.

Taylor is such an important player when Celtic are trying to break down a low block, defensively though, especially in the Champions League, he is often targeted by opponents.

Horses for courses and all that.

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