According to the latest reports from Daily Record, Kilmarnock’s Greg Taylor is high on Celtic’s wishlist after the Scottish champions agreed to sell Kieran Tierney to Arsenal. Expectedly, Celtic now need to look at left-back options and with £25m at their disposal, they should be able to bring in a new fullback before the Scottish transfer window slams shut next month.
Even though Celtic spent £3m on Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, they are expected to sign another left-back. Moreover, the performance of the former Rapid Wien fullback in the recently concluded Champions League tie against Cluj has raised many doubts about whether the 24-year-old would be able to cement a first-team place.
Defensively, Bolingoli looked shocking, and he should be only seen as a backup option. Alternatively, he could be played against teams where the Hoops would dominate most of their games.
Taylor enjoyed a fruitful campaign last season for Kilmarnock, and he even went on to earn a cap for Scotland this year. Killie punched above their weight last season under Steven Clarke, and Taylor was an integral member of the back four as he made 41 appearances in all competitions.
What can Taylor offer?
The young fullback showcases impressive pace and strength, and he could be a reliable replacement for Tierney. Taylor even attracted interest from English club Hull City earlier on in the transfer window. Moreover, he is already part of the Scottish Premiership so there should be no problems in adjusting.
Celtic might have to be patient with Bolingoli, but Taylor can hit the ground running straight away. The Scotsman has impressive on the ball qualities, and he is defensively solid as well.
However, with plenty of transfer funds to play with, some fans would want to see a stand out option come in at the club. Taylor will be a reliable and budget-friendly option to replace Tierney, but if Celtic want to have someone of similar quality to Tierney, then they need to pay the big bucks.
The Hoops should be in an excellent financial position, and hopefully, the money earned in the transfer window will be invested in the squad. Moreover, the performance of Bolingoli-Mbombo should concern Lennon.
Can Celtic lure him?
Celtic should be able to lure Taylor now as he will have a great chance to be the first choice left-back at Parkhead. The fullback was even linked with Celtic in June, but it was said that he was sceptical over a move as he wouldn’t have been the first-choice starter. With Tierney now gone, Taylor will back himself to start over Bolingoli. A chance to play in European football should be tempting for the 21-year-old.
