Tierney, Taylor and Valle – Comings and goings at Celtic Park

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The Celtic Star

·4 gennaio 2025

Tierney, Taylor and Valle – Comings and goings at Celtic Park

Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic should rightfully excite our supporters, but what will it mean for Greg Taylor and Alex Valle’s futures?

Kieran Tierney and Scotty Sinclair of Celtic celebrate their team’s third goal scored by Callum McGregor during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on April 29, 2017. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

As reported by Stephen McGowan in Scottish Daily Mail, Celtic are working on a pre-contract agreement for the 27 year-old left-back, and a loan until the end of season has also been discussed.

OneFootball Video

Today’s Scottish Daily Mail back page with Kieran Tierney update.

The stars are aligning

The stars are aligning, and it was obvious in the summer that this agreement was down the line. The worst kept secret within Celtic environs is now out, and it throws uncertainty around the Hoops’ current two left-backs Greg Taylor and Alex Valle.

Greg Taylor. Hearts v Celtic, 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Taylor, who arrived at Celtic from Kilmarnock in the summer of 2019 has been an integral player under Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers’ regimes. But, with Tierney’s incoming, Taylor will no longer be considered as Celtic’s first choice left-back, and will undoubtedly play a lesser role.

Taylor wants to explore other opportunities

At 27, it’s clear Taylor wants to explore other opportunities, one last payout possibly, that will inevitably see him leave the three-in-a-row Scottish champions and Croatian media are reporting that Taylor is indeed keen on a move to our recent Champions League opponents Dinamo Zagreb.

Celtic v Club Brugge – UEFA Champions League Taylor Greg defender of Celtic FC and Vanaken Hans midfielder of Club Brugge during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Club Brugge on November 27, 2024. Photo Peter De Voecht

Making 24 appearances this season, Brendan Rodgers has gone on record saying how much he wants to keep Taylor at the club. But, it won’t happen. And Celtic need to prepare for his exit, potentially in this window.

Criticism of Taylor is strange

I’ve always found the criticisms of Taylor strange. An underrated technician, he has been pivotal in the Hoops’ domestic success in recent years. A mainstay in Postecoglou and Rodgers’ sides, that alone is an acknowledgment of the quality he possesses.

Found wanting in Europe over the years? Absolutely. But, what Celtic player hasn’t? It’s almost a ‘be careful what you wish for,’ regarding those who constant tiresomely lambast Taylor. He will be missed when he departs whether it be this month or in the summer.

Greg Taylor. Hearts v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Tynecastle. 23 November 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

He doesn’t want to play the ‘Anthony Ralston role’ when Tierney signs, and that again, is fair enough. Subsequently, Celtic will need to dip into the market and sign another left-back.

Alex Valle’s future

Meanwhile, Alex Valle’s time in Glasgow has been in my view somewhat mediocre. The Spaniard has a lot of developing to do, and quite frankly you don’t really know what you’re going to get when he steps onto the pitch.

Celtic won’t be signing him, and there were rumours in November that Barcelona was exploring the opportunity to cut the loan deal short, although Rodgers confirmed this won’t be happening.

Alex Valle of Celtic battles for the ball with Nedim Bajrami of Rangers during the Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox. Rangers v Celtic, 02 January 2025 O’Rourke Shutterstock

Therefore, with Taylor departing, and Valle heading back to Catalonia in the summer, it will need to be Tierney and one another.

Tierney has played 176 games since leaving Celtic

Since leaving Celtic in 2019, Tierney has featured in a combined total of 176 matches for Arsenal, Real Sociedad in Scotland. That is 35 games a season. Understandably, injuries are a concern, but if Celtic sign another left-back, the role he plays will not be as demanding as it was in his first spell, nor will he be called upon every week.

Entering the peak of his career, the best is yet to come. Celtic signing Tierney is a statement signing. Michael Nicholson and Chris MacKay should be aiming to accelerate the deal this month so that he can play in crucial Champions League matches against BSC Young Boys and Aston Villa.

Tierney attended a Celtic FC Foundation event in London last week, seen here with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. Photo Celtic FC

A tantalising back four

A backline of Kieran Tierney, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Alistair Johnston with Kasper Schmeichel behind them is formidable.

But, the main point stands, with Taylor and Valle on their way out, Tierney should not be the only new left-back to head through the Parkhead gates in the next few months.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!