FORMER Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas believes that Greg Taylor will have to raise his game if he wants to stay in Ange Postecoglou's first-team plans in the new campaign after Alexandro Bernabei was signed from Lanus.

The Argentinian completed a move from his homeland to Glasgow earlier this week as he signed a five-year deal at Parkhead.

Nicholas is impressed with the 21-year-old's willingness to up sticks and move to a new continent at such a young age and he reckons his former club will benefit from having two players challenging for the left-back berth.

And Nicolas thinks that Taylor - who enjoyed a fine campaign last term - will need to up his game if he is to retain his spot in the starting XI.

"He has been on Celtic’s radar for several months, and there is a feeling that he is going to be an excellent addition to the squad," Nicholas said of Bernabei in his Sunday Post column.

"Ange had wanted to strengthen that area of the team, and it’s now between Alexandro and Greg Taylor to battle it out.

"All managers want competition for places, and the Celtic boss is no different.

"Greg was excellent for the Parkhead club last season, and more than played his part as they won the title and the League Cup.

"But he is now going to have to step it up to another level, and Ange will be hoping that the two of them going for it will improve them both.

"Successful teams need to have two players fighting for every position.

"For Alexandro to choose to come to Scotland at such a young age tells you a lot about his desire and attitude.

"But you never can predict, with any great certainty, how a player is going to do.

"As is the case with every signing – whether he is from Argentina, Aberdeen or Accrington – you can only hope it all works out well for everybody involved.

"But my view is that South Americans embrace the challenge of playing in Europe.

"They seem to want to come over here and do well. It’s in their DNA.

"However, some players just can’t settle, and that is unfortunate. The club and the individual can give it their all, but it doesn’t click.

"That, though, hasn’t happened under Ange at Celtic."