Another left-back may be more than just a back-up

By Donal Glass

With Brendan Rodgers admitting that he expects Greg Taylor to leave in the summer, it’s clear that signing a new left-back is a high priority Greg has done a good job done a good job for us overall. He’s always put in a shift, grafted hard, and never given less than full effort. But let's also face the truth: aside from those two golden years under Ange, he's never truly looked the standard Celtic require at left-back. This season, frankly, he's been a passenger.

Greg deserves our thanks for his effort and professionalism, but sentimentality won't win trophies. The fact is, next season's left-back will have a hefty workload, and we need real quality in that position. Celtic should therefore move heaven and earth to sign Jeffrey Schlupp permanently. Yes, I know – his current salary makes eyes water and bank managers reach nervously for their calculators. But sometimes you have to pay for quality, especially when the quality looks tailor-made for our style of play.

Jeffrey’s short spell here has shown exactly why he fits. Strong, athletic, and sharp – there’s a lot about him that reminds me of Kieran Tierney. I am absolutely thrilled KT’s returning. Kieran isn't just a footballer – he’s Celtic through and through, the embodiment of passion, drive, and commitment. But a word of caution: Kieran’s return might not be the fairytale comeback we all imagine.

While it shouldn't be overplayed, we can't not dodge the issue that Kieran’s injury record is a worry. Beyond the medical history, his recent performance against Greece gave me pause. Don't get me wrong, he played well enough, but something was missing – that explosive, raw power, the sheer dynamism that marked him out as special. Maybe it’s just a temporary dip due to lack of game time, but perhaps those injuries have taken a heavier toll on him physically than we'd like to admit.

Worse yet, injuries don’t just scar bodies – they affect minds. A player who's suffered as Kieran has can subconsciously hold back, afraid to trust his body or test its limits fully. Hopefully, a good pre-season and some regular game-time will get him back close to those dizzying heights we remember so fondly. But there’s a realistic chance we’ll need more than just a backup at left-back next season.

This is why Jeffrey is such an essential signing. He's exactly the kind of player we need: someone who won’t just deputise but will genuinely challenge for that starting spot, week-in, week-out. Competition at that level costs money, real money. But the alternative is to settle for mediocrity, and we've tried that.

We can't just settle for “Kieran plus one other”  – we need someone of Jeffrey's ability. That’s the level of quality Celtic need.

Get it done, Celtic.