Rodgers expects a timely decision on Greg Taylor’s future as he plans for Celtic’s next campaign.

Today, Brendan Rodgers gave his press conference, covering a range of topics, including updates on contract negotiations for Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor.

He also directly addressed the rumours that Barcelona intends to recall Alex Valle from his loan spell at Celtic. Rodgers dismissed these stories outright, saying he’s heard nothing of the sort and chalked it up to typical post-transfer-window gossip and speculation—which most of us suspected when the story surfaced.

Rodgers was clear about his position on Johnston. He wants him to stay and sign a new deal, and it’s apparent he believes Johnston shares this commitment. This would, of course, be excellent news. Rodgers also touched on Taylor’s contract situation, making his expectations known.

Taylor is in a unique spot, with Valle only here on a one-year loan deal.

Taylor still has a strong chance to cement his place as first-choice left-back—a position he’s held for a considerable time. His inclusion in the lineup against Leipzig suggests that the manager continues to see him as a valuable asset. Valle has impressed in every appearance, but Rodgers evidently still holds Taylor in high regard, reinforcing that by saying he wants Taylor to sign a new deal.

However, Rodgers dropped a significant hint today that discussions are ongoing behind the scenes.

By telling Taylor publicly that a decision has to be reached soon, he’s making it clear that time is running out.

Taylor’s contract ends at the end of the season, meaning he can talk to other clubs in January. Rodgers is entirely correct to insist that the matter is resolved quickly, as the club needs clarity to plan its future. Should Taylor decide to leave on a free we have a problem and Rodgers is aware that this is a genuine possibility and wants an answer promptly.

Essentially, Rodgers is telling Taylor, “I want you to stay, but if you’re not going to commit, we need to address this now.”

And he’s absolutely right. The club has to plan for next season, including possible replacements.

It’s possible Celtic will have to find not just one but two left-backs if Taylor departs, and that’s a situation we need to avoid.

The finger-pointing at the board or past scouting errors isn’t relevant right now.

The focus is on where we go from here.

If Taylor stays and commits, then all’s well. Otherwise, we might need more than one new signing at left-back come summer.

This isn’t about holding Celtic to ransom—no player has that kind of leverage here. It’s about setting priorities.

Rodgers is nothing if not meticulous in his planning.

He likely has an idea of players who might leave and is preparing for those eventualities. The recruitment work for their replacements is likely well underway. We hope the lessons from last summer have been learned, as Rodgers himself was vocal about how the transfer dealings dragged on too long.

If we only need one left-back, the shortlist may already exist.

If we need two, it’s a bigger problem, and work must begin immediately—possibly as soon as January.

That’s why, without setting a hard deadline, Rodgers has effectively put Taylor and others on notice.

If you’re committed, it’s time to show it; if not, Rodgers wants to know now, because preparations for life after them must begin.

During Rodgers’ previous spell at Celtic, he was frustrated with the John McGinn transfer saga, which was emblematic of Celtic’s foot-dragging under Lawwell. Rodgers had anticipated losing key players like Scott Brown and had begun planning for life after them. His frustration wasn’t just about missing out on McGinn; he knew the club would suffer for not seeing through his wide ranging succession plans for various players in the team, Brown included.

Hopefully, things are different now.

Rodgers seems to have greater control over recruitment, which should have been the case from the start. That’s how you build a high-value squad that achieves results. The manager should be setting priorities for the scouting and recruitment teams, not having his plans hampered by bureaucratic delays, or worse; people second guessing his needs.

Rodgers is again focused on succession planning, with Taylor’s situation a priority. We should all hope that Taylor makes his intentions known soon, for his own sake and for Celtic’s. He’s been a tremendous servant, and if he chooses to move on, he’ll leave with the gratitude and respect of every fan.

Taylor has earned that right. He owes no apologies if he wants a new challenge. But Rodgers needs clarity because the left-back situation impacts his plans for the entire team. This isn’t a decision that can wait indefinitely, and today Rodgers made that known—loud and clear.