BRENDAN RODGERS has made it clear there WILL be changes at Celtic in what is bound to be a hectic summer.
Players will come and go as the Hoops manager reshapes and strengthens the squad for his third season of his comeback to Parkhead.
Before the kick-off to the previous two campaigns, the champions have seen two of the star performers, Filipe Jota and Matt O’Riley, leave for circa £50million in transfer fees.
There could be a similar exit this time around, but Rodgers will want everything done and dusted before the absolutely crucial Champions League qualifiers in late July/early August.
GREEN FOR GO…Nicolas Kuhn celebrates his goal against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.
Some names have already been mooted as possible departures, but former Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton is adamant the Celtic gaffer should be thinking about making another effort to tie down Greg Taylor before the defender is allowed to leave the club for free at the end of his contract in June.
Looking at the overall position, the one-time England international striker said: “Interest in the likes of Nicolas Kuhn and Reo Hatate could easily result in one of them being the next big-money sale.
“It has proven overall to be a successful model, whether I have agreed with all of the timings or not.
“One whose future remains in the balance is Greg Taylor, but if I was Celtic, I’d be chaining him to the front door until he signed a contract extension.
“Now let’s be clear here. I’m not rewriting history. I had said that Celtic needed an upgrade in the left-back position for the Champions League and I do not shy away from that.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney at Celtic first time around.
“I felt, at times, Taylor was too vulnerable in the one-on-one situations in that environment. Certainly, Jeffrey Schlupp’s display against Bayern Munich when he policed Michael Olise superbly in Germany spoke to that extent because Taylor found it hard against him in the first leg.
“Kieran Tierney is that upgrade. He is capable of playing at the highest level and performing to a big standard against Europe’s best.
“But none of this means Taylor isn’t important. Quite the opposite. I watched him against Kilmarnock last weekend and it is clear to me that he is absolutely perfect for the way Rodgers wants to play.
“The way he drifts infield into that inverted position, flits around to create overloads in the middle and plays with intelligence is clear. Domestically, when teams are going man-for-man and packing their two banks of four, Taylor’s ability is invaluable.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I’ll be honest, I don’t see Tierney as being able to do that as effectively.
“He’s a better one-on-one defender, but plays more on the outside linking with wingers in channels in the way Alistair Johnston does on the right for Rodgers.
“Tierney isn’t as effective inside. It’s probably why Mikel Arteta picked Oleksandr Zinchenko ahead of him and now Myles-Lewis Skelly at Arsenal.
“Jeffrey Shlupp, as good as he has been in other aspects, hasn’t shown himself to me as being as effective as Taylor at it, either.
BY THE LEFT…Greg Taylor strikes Celtic’s equaliser on their way to Premier Sports League Cup Final triumph at Hampden in mid-December.
“Now the fact no deal is agreed at this point is probably down to two few things. One might be the player wanting to be a regular at 27 or wanting a fresh challenge. I get that, but there’s two aspects in that.
“Firstly, no-one is guaranteed a game anywhere. Just go to France and ask Kyogo.
“There’s also the situation regarding Tierney’s injury record. I find it impossible to see a season where he plays 55 or 60 games given the recent record. Taylor is going to get plenty of opportunities.”
Media pundit Sutton added: “If it’s money, then that’s down purely to Celtic. If Brendan Rodgers sees fit, the offer made by the hierarchy can surely make the player’s mind up for him.
“We all know the club’s success is built on being smart with finances, but it’s clear to anyone that Taylor has big value in a squad.
“Just look at Boli Bolongoli or Alexander Bernabei for examples of past supposed upgrades on Taylor and how he easily saw them off the premises.
“It surely wouldn’t break the bank to offer Taylor the sort of package which would convince him to stay.”
