Stephen McGinn has told Celtic to look at the bigger picture over Greg Taylor.
Brendan Rodgers revealed ahead of the Scottish Cup clash with Raith that he is hopeful he can tie down the left-back to a new deal. Kieran Tierney is set to return to his boyhood club in the summer from Arsenal after agreeing a pre-contract but the Hoops gaffer insists there is room for TWO quality full-backs on that side in his squad. Taylor will be a free agent in the summer and can hold talks with interested parties.
Lengthy discussions with his current club over fresh terms have so far came to nothing. Speaking on Go Radio, McGinn reckons the wage difference between the two in talks will sit somewhere between £5,000-8,000 per week and has asked Celtic what buying another £3million left-back would look like with wages on top. He believes they should just invest that in the tried and tested who over the piece has been what he describes as a ‘brilliant’ signing.
He believes that for Taylor, there is no better place for him to be playing his football while for the club, it makes sense to make sure he doesn’t walk out the door come the end of the season and head elsewhere for nothing.
Speaking on air, he said: “Reports in the last couple of days suggested he signed a contract with Dinamo Zagreb. Listening to Brendan Rodgers there, probably more confident there is a chance he could still be a Celtic player next season. I would be really disappointed if he was to leave Celtic.
“What Brendan touched on as well, Celtic have signed a lot of left-backs for all different fees, permanent and loans. None has been able to replace Greg Taylor. Kieran Tierney is an unbelievable signing if he stays fit, but I don’t think he is going to come in and play 60 games off the bat. If Taylor was to leave, Celtic would have to go buy a left back. It’s a tricky position as Celtic have shown in the last few years. It’s not easy to get someone in or an improvement on Taylor.
“I can’t imagine they are 20 grand a week apart. It is maybe 5 to 6, 7, 8 a week apart. In the grand scheme of things if everybody can park it, and look at the bigger picture. What would buying another £3million left-back look with wages on top? Just give it to Taylor. I think he has earned it. He won’t be asking to be on the same money as Callum McGregor. It is one of his last big contracts.
“He’s always available and has won at Celtic. For the most part he has been a really brilliant signing. I just think, get it done.For him, I think there is nowhere he is going to find that the grass is greener. There is no better place for him to play his football than Celtic. For Celtic, it just makes sense.”