According to a recent tweet by Sky Sports presenter Jim White, as has been clarified by Birmingham Live, Premiership giants Celtic are among a host of clubs claimed to be keen on the services of Charlton Athletic striker Lyle Taylor. The tweet suggests that the forward is in demand after the season, so he’s had in the Championship for Charlton and that some highly-rated clubs across various top leagues are after the Montserrat international forward’s signature in the upcoming summer transfer window.
While it has been clarified that Celtic are interested in Lyle Taylor, the report also suggests that the likes of Bournemouth, Fulham, Brentford and Nottingham Forest are all keen on the striker’s signature. As has been claimed by the report, the player has refused to come back and play for Charlton this season, in fear of getting injured ahead of what could be a career-defining transfer in the upcoming window. The Addicks’ manager – Lee Bowyer, expressed his disappointment in the forward’s decision to not see out the season.
What Has Lyle Taylor Achieved Over The Years?
The Montserrat international has earned a total of six caps for his country. Although that might look underwhelming, it’s worth considering that the striker spent most of his career at lower league English clubs. Having had stints at British minnows like Lewes, Hereford United and Woking FC during his younger days, the 30-year-old first made a name for himself after securing a switch to Scotland to join Falkirk in 2012. The forward scored a whopping 24 goals from 34 outings in the Scottish Championship that term, and it also spelt the beginning of what has been an impressive career so far.
The striker made multiple moves all over the nation of Great Britain over the next few years, but consistently scored goals at whichever club he joined. The forward’s most influential season was arguably the 2015/16 League 2 campaign, where he guided AFC Wimbledon into not just the playoffs, but towards promotion into the League 1.
He scored 20 times that season as well, and despite some struggles in the higher league, the Montserrat international secured a switch to Charlton in 2018. Since then, Taylor has been a sensation upfront for the Addicks, scoring 36 times and picking up 14 assists in just 67 appearances for the League 1 club. (Transfermarkt)
What Would Lyle Taylor Add To The Celtic Front-Line?
A majority of the goals that this Celtic team scored last season involved the brilliant work of French Odsonne Edouard. Still, with various question marks about the forward’s future, the addition of a player like Taylor could go a long way. A tall and physically dominant forward, the Charlton man has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and is also a strong finisher of the ball. The Montserrat striker is adept at holding the ball up to bring teammates into the game, while his height makes him a threat from crosses into the box as well.
Celtic Are Interested In Lyle Taylor: Should Lennon Make This Deal Happen?
The potential departure of Edouard will be giving even the most faithful of Celtic supporters nightmares at this moment in time, as his presence does come as a humongous boost. Taking the Frenchman’s attacking play out of the side would be like removing Leo Messi from the Argentine national team, and a move like that would have dire effects. Whether or not Taylor can replicate Edouard’s exploits up front remains to be seen, but one thing that can be said for sure is that the forward is bound to score goals in whichever kit he chooses to put on next season.
