Celtic to sign Taylor-Sinclair as club value soars

CELTIC have widened the gap between their Old Firm rivals by reporting a market worth of £95.7 million - nearly £70 million more than Rangers.

Celtic's market value has rocketed to just over 95 million pounds. Picture: Robert Perry

Shares in the Parkhead club rose to 76.5p on the stock exchange, while Rangers’ share price slumped to a record low of 39.5p. Rangers are now valued at £26.3 million.

The news means that majority shareholder Dermot Desmond could theoretically sell his stake in the club at a profit for the first time since buying out Fergus McCann in 1999. Were he to sell his shares now, he would see a profit of £2 million.

Despite a share issue last December that saw £22.2 million raised, Rangers’ market worth has fallen to such an extent that ordinary investors’ shares are only worth 50 per cent of their original value.

Meanwhile, Celtic are closing in on Partick Thistle defender Aaron Taylor-Sinclair. The left-back is understood to be in advanced talks with the club with a view to signing a deal worth £75,000 in the January window.

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald confirmed the 22-year-old was departing.

He said: “Aaron isn’t staying but we had a couple of good years out of him. He exceeded all expectations.”