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Former Celtic captain Scott Brown, now the manager at Championship side Ayr United and currently a rumoured contender for the vacancy at Dundee, has been speaking about the left-back changes that are about to happen at Celtic this summer with the return of Kieran Tierney to the club.

Tierney signed off at Arsenal with a goal and a great reception

Tierney signed off at Arsenal with a goal and a great reception from the travelling Gunners fans down at Southampton on Sunday, bring a close to his six years at the Premier League club. After Mikel Arteta decided back in January not to take up the club’s one year option on KT’s deal, he was able to sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic, amid stiff competition from Premier League and top European clubs.

That decision though has caused a stand-off at Celtic with Greg Taylor, the £3m 2019 signing from Kilmarnock as a replacement for Tierney who had left to join Arsenal in a record breaking £25m deal, feeling that his own status as the first pick left-back would be threatened by Tierney coming in, presumably with promises from Brendan Rodgers that he will play.

Tierney was not short of alternative options

After a few seasons warming the bench at Arsenal it’s unlikely that this would not have been discussed and as already stated Tierney was not short of alternative options.

Greg Taylor’s current contract expires at the end of next month, so unless something changes he will NOT be reporting back for pre-season training at Celtic and presumably will have his own alternatives in the pipeline.

Taylor was one of Celtic’s better performers in the Scottish Cup Final 

Taylor was one of Celtic’s better performers in the disappointing Scottish Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat to Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon and will have been really disappointed not to have gone out on a high – IF indeed that is his ultimate decision.

Clearly Brendan Rodgers wants Tierney to stay and has talked about a four or even five year for the 27 year-old who has recently become a father for the first time. Rodgers acknowledges the importance of this last big contract for the player but crucially admits that it’s not only about money.

Rodgers reckons both players can play a huge part at Celtic

Rodgers reckons both players can play a huge part at Celtic and with KT’s injury record at Arsenal and indeed while on loan at Real Sociedad – that makes perfect sense. Also Taylor has masted that inverted full-back role perfectly, relying on his time earlier in his career as a midfielder. He would clearly be a huge loss to the Scottish Champions.

Scott Brown had this to say on this situation at the weekend while working for television at the Scottish Cup Final.

Scott Brown had his say on the BBC

“He [Greg Taylor] has played in all the big games. He is technically very, very good. Maybe it’s time for Greg to go and try something else? Celtic fans would still love to have him here about competing against Kieran as well.”

“Everybody always questions his defensive ability. They always talk about the Champions League,” Broony said. He can fully understand the reluctance that Greg Taylor appears to have in accepting the new situation of competing with Tierney for the left back slot at Celtic.

“Kieran is coming back. Everybody knows that. He is an unbelievable player,” Scott Brown said. That is the reality.

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This article first appeared on The Celtic Star and was syndicated with permission.

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