Opinion: Transfer rumour should provide motivation to key Celtic talent

It is interesting to see that Celtic have recently been linked with a left-back. The Scottish Sun reported earlier this week that the Hoops were interested in signing Hammarby’s Mohanad Jeahze, who would cost around £2m.

The reason that is interesting is that the Hoops seem to have a first choice left-back already at the club in Greg Taylor, but Ange Postecoglou is keen to have some competition for Taylor in the squad.

Even though Celtic have other players in the squad that can play left-back – Liam Scales, Boli Bolingoli, even Josip Juranovic on occasion – there is no doubt that Taylor has been the first choice when he has been fit, you only need to look at the number of games he has played this season.

Taylor has made 31 appearances for the Bhoys in season 2021/22. He has started the last nine games for the Hoops in all competitions and has made the left-back role his own. Taylor arguably could have made even more appearances if he hadn’t suffered from a shoulder problem in the first-half of the season.

One wonders if the interest in Jeahze will provide extra motivation for Taylor in Celtic’s last four games of the season, starting with the Glasgow derby against Rangers on Sunday.

Taylor will already be motivated as he wants to help the Hoops regain the league title. But if he is aware of the report about Celtic looking for a left-back – and he might well be – then that could provide him with extra motivation to show that he deserves to be first choice next season even if the Hoops do sign another left-back.

The fact that Celtic are reportedly interested in Jeahze does seem to indicate that left-back is a position that the Hoops will be looking to strengthen in the summer, and that makes sense, as a big squad is needed