Taylor deserves better than to be cast aside for returning hero Tierney
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The summer of 2019 saw Celtic arrive at a fork in the road. A die-hard fan of the club, Kieran Tierney never went looking for a move away from Parkhead. When Arsenal intimated they’d be willing to pay £25million for his signature, pragmatism was always going to win the day.
![[Arsenal star Tierney appears ready to make a sensational return to Parkhead]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/17/93795167-0-image-m-4_1736185347174.jpg)
To prepare for the inevitable, the club splashed out £3m to bring in Boli Bolingoli from Rapid Vienna. Once Tierney’s transfer to North London had been confirmed, some £2.2m was spent to recruit Greg Taylor from Kilmarnock. The respective contributions of both players to the cause proved to be a salutary lesson in the danger of being seduced by exotic sounding names from continental clubs.
![[Brendan Rodgers was angry that fans chanted Tierney's name while Taylor was on pitch]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/17/93795141-0-image-a-5_1736185395763.jpg)
A man with an unfortunate liking for bling, Bolingoli was happy to dine out on the fact that his cousin was Romelu Lukaku. After an uncertain start to life on the park, his questionable character was exposed off it when he broke Covid-19 quarantine rules by making an unsolicited trip to Spain and then playing against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on his return.
![[Taylor, left, and Tierney have been on Scotland duty together during their careers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/17/93795541-0-image-m-7_1736185475192.jpg)
After being shipped out on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir, he played a couple of matches at the start of the following season before moving to Mechelen on a free transfer. Taylor, above, is set to be replaced as first-choice left back at Celtic by Kieran Tierney.
![[Supporters are excited at the prospect of fans' favourite Tierney being back at the club]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/17/93795265-0-image-a-8_1736185525635.jpg)
Arsenal star Tierney appears ready to make a sensational return to Parkhead. Brendan Rodgers was angry that fans chanted Tierney's name while Taylor was on pitch. Taylor, in sharp contrast, did what he’d always done. Second choice to Bolingoli initially, he bided his time, worked hard, made no fuss and took his chance when it came along.
![[But Taylor has been a fine servant in his absence and, unlike Tierney, is rarely injured]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/17/93795131-0-image-m-10_1736185563245.jpg)
