Whelan: Taylor may save Celtic £7m+ | OneFootball

Noel Whelan has admitted Celtic are unlikely to launch a permanent bid for loanee Diego Laxalt because of Greg Taylor’s recent fine form.

The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed Laxalt will not be the only player to leave the club at the end of the season as a massive culture change is needed.

Laxalt signed from AC Milan on deadline day in October and was thrown straight into a struggling Hoops side.

He featured in 11 of the first 12 games he was available for but has not made the starting XI in recent weeks.

Italian outlet Il Milanista reported at the beginning of January AC Milan had set an asking price of £7.2million on the left-back.

However, since then the Uruguay international has started just two Scottish Premiership games and Taylor has emerged as Neil Lennon’s preferred left-back.

The 23-year-old has started their last five games and made a team-high four key passes in their 2-1 win over Motherwell at the weekend.

Asked whether Taylor’s recent displays will put Celtic pursuing a permanent deal for Laxalt, Whelan told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs: “I think so, yes.

“Taylor has been excellent since he’s come in, a real natural full-back and you cannot see anybody taking his place at the minute.

“It’s difficult when you see somebody so dominant in that position, you cannot fight your way into that.

“You cannot see that happening. It’s not going to work out there.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of changes and outgoings at Celtic in the summer. I think there’s got to be a massive change in culture there.

“A lot of these players at the beginning of the season who said they wanted to leave, you’ve got to get them out of there. I don’t think it’s been healthy for Celtic carrying these players who asked to leave.”

In other news, a finance expert has claimed Celtic are “light years” behind Rangers due to tight Dermot Desmond.