Iconic Kenny Dalglish believes Celtic's Champions League clarity is allowing them a signing edge over great rivals Rangers.
Ange Postecoglou 's title winners have a reservation at European football's top table after a five-year absence and are active in the transfer market. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Benji Siegrist are on board, plus the looming arrivals of Alexandro Bernabei and Jota will take spending beyond £15m this summer.
Across the city, Rangers have focused on re-signing the likes of Connor Goldson, Allan McGregor and Steven Davis. John Souttar joins as a free agent from Hearts. And Dalglish reckons it's a balancing act for Gio van Bronckhorst in terms of incomings as they face two rounds of qualifying if they are to reach the Champions League group stage. The Europa League finalists lost to Malmo last year and supporters are desperate to see their Euro achievers mix it with the continent's best.
But Dalglish reckons patience must remain for Rangers in the search for quality additions to take on Postecoglou's side next season.
Speaking to the Sunday Post, he said: "Rangers haven’t added to their squad, but they have managed to re-sign Allan McGregor.
"It must be reassuring for Giovanni van Bronckhorst to have his veteran goalkeeper in the building for another year, at least.
"Allan had a very good season, and was a major reason why the club made it to the Europa League Final.
"Indeed, getting him to stay may well be the best piece of news Rangers get in the next few weeks.
"They will strengthen, of course, but not knowing if they are in the Champions League or not doesn’t give them that certainty.
"They may well have targets they can then go for if they make it through the qualifiers and get a hold of that £35m pot in Europe’s top competition.
"But I’m sure they will have a list of others if they drop down into the Europa League.
"That’s the most sensible way for any football club to go about their business. You cannot spend what you do not have.
"There needs to be a budget that you stick to, and there needs to be a structure.
"Celtic are in a position to spend right now because they know what their income is going to be for the next six months.
"They have that certainty, and that’s a great position for any manager or chief executive to be in.
"It will be interesting to see who else big Ange adds to his squad but, like Allan McGregor across the city at Ibrox, he will do well to better the signing of Carter-Vickers in terms of quality.
"The American defender is excellent. He has a presence and is really powerful, and settled into the club very quickly. That was so important."
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