Celtic target Greg Taylor has been left out of Kilmarnock's squad for the home clash with Aberdeen.
The 21-year-old is at Rugby Park with his teammates but will play not part against the Dons with a huge question mark hanging over his future as the Hoops prepare their first bid.
Record Sport revealed earlier this week that Celtic had made an official approach to ask for Killie’s valuation. They are set to make a bid - but not at the initial £3million mark the Ayrshire club have set.
Taylor is understood to be keen to speak to the Hoops but remains under contract at Rugby Park until the summer of 2021.
He sat out training on Friday after complaining of a hamstring strain and will play no part in this afternoon's match.
Celtic have had the Scotland international watched in recent weeks and are looking for a left-back to compete with Boli Bolingoli after they sold Kieran Tierney to Arsenal.
Hoops defender Jack Hendry could be used as part of any deal with Killie interested in taking the Parkhead outcast to Ayrshire.
Killie boss Angelo Alessio is desperate to keep the defender in Ayrshire.
He said: "I don't know (what it will take for us to sell him) but I've spoken a lot of times about this situation with the board and Billy Bowie. We agree that we want to keep our best players. It's an easy situation.
"Greg is a good player in my team and I don't want to think about him going away."
