Exclusive: Celtic close to transfer breakthrough after major development
EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey
Celtic have been given a major boost in their bid to sign Greg Taylor as Sunderland have turned to alternative targets, Football Insider can reveal.
The Hoops have been given a clear run at landing the left-back, 21, as they close in on a deal before the Scottish window shuts next Monday night.
A Celtic source has told Football Insider that negotiations are ongoing with Kilmarnock over a transfer for Taylor that would be worth around £1million.
Sunderland had a £750,000 bid rejected by Kilmarnock for Taylor and are not looking to increase their offer as they move on to other left-backs on their target list.
The Scotland international is eager to make the move from Ayrshire to Glasgow after establishing himself as one of the outstanding full-backs in the Scottish Premiership during his time at Kilmarnock.
He has graduated through the ranks at Rugby Park to accumulate an impressive 131 appearances for the club and break into the senior Scotland side.
Taylor, who was absent from Kilmarnock's SPL match last weekend with what was claimed to be a hamstring injury, has two years remaining on his Killie contract.
The club's manager Angelo Alessio admitted today that Sunderland have tabled a bid for the defender and his club remain in talks with Celtic over a deal.