“I would not be surprised,” Simon Donnelly reckons wheel has turned on new contract | OneFootball

Former Celtic star Simon Donnelly reckons that Greg Taylor let his football do the talking at the weekend after being a no-show for the Sky Sports post-match interview with the Man of the Match.

Greg Taylor’s MOTM award as per his post on Instagram.

An emotional day for Greg Taylor

It was an emotional day for Greg Taylor, playing against his old team and getting re-instated into the starting eleven at the expense of on-loan left back Jeffrey Schlupp. Taylor himself will know if this will be one of his last few games as a Celtic player at Paradise as his contract draws to a close with no outcome either way.

Celtic want him to stay and Brendan Rodgers has already clarified that the stumbling point is NOT financial, although Taylor has not been one of the high earners at the club since signing from Kilmarnock in the summer window in 2019.

The return of Kieran Tierney and what that means for Taylor’s game-time

With matters seemingly heading towards a Celtic exit for Taylor, who clearly doesn’t fancy the Anthony Ralston back-up to Alistair Johnston role on the other side of the defence when Kieran Tierney returns in the summer, there has perhaps emerged some rekindled hope that a deal can be sorted after all.

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal throws a ball to Kieran Tierney during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brentford FC at Emirates Stadium on April 12, 2025. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

That would of course mean that Jeffrey Schlupp would not be offered a new deal and after the Hearts game a few weeks ago Rodgers was keen to stress that any move on the the Crystal Palace loanee would happen further down the line. Schlupp, like Taylor is out of contract in the summer and perhaps is aware that his own chances of securing a permanent contract at Celtic is directly related to Greg Taylor’s decision.

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Sid senses that there’s now a change in Taylor’s thinking

26 August 1997: Simon Donnelly of Celtic celebrates a goal during the UEFA Cup Preliminary round second leg match against against Tirol Innsbruck at Celtic Park. Celtic won 6-3 on the night and 7-5 on aggregate. Photo: StuForster /Allsport

Speaking on Clyde 1’s Superscoreboard, Simon Donnelly gave his assessment after the considering the events on Saturday at Celtic Park where Taylor was outstanding and Celtic swept Derek McInnes’ side away with an emphatic 5-1 win.

Sid said: “Greg Taylor, for me, at the weekend, let his football do the talking. I don’t know what reasons there’s been (for him not signing a new deal with Celtic). Maybe they couldn’t get as close to a financial package (not the case, according to Brendan) that him and his team would like. Who knows? Maybe he wants to go to pastures new. I do not know.

Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor with the Premier Sports Cup. Photo Kenny Ramsay

“I take on board that when you leave the likes of Celtic, yeah, sometimes it can only be one way in terms of success, and he’s won 10 trophies. I mean, that’s a hell of a haulage in the short space of time he’s been there. It shows the success of the team. However, I think the wheel has turned a wee bit over the weekend. I think now you hear the manager talking about it.” Simon Donnelly added:

“I would not be surprised if they came to terms and Greg Taylor’s at Celtic next year.”

That would be great news for Celtic and for a player who has had to earn the trust and respect of the Celtic support the hard way, having signed from a relative unglamorous club like Kilmarnock. Taylor took the criticism and has never hid even when having bad games. He is a popular guy in the dressing room and plays a leadership role alongside the skipper Callum McGregor and veteran keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Daizen Maeda and Greg Taylor celebrate during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Brendan Rodgers knows that he’ll be a loss if he does decide to go. If that’s the case then hopefully the goodbyes are after the Scottish cup Final when Greg has added a 12th medal for collection.

That’s plenty to be giving up so hopefully Sid is reading this one correctly and a deal can be agreed even at the 11th hour.

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