Kris Boyd has predicted several “big” signings to arrive at this window after Rangers threatened to cut the gap last term.
Ange Postecolgou lost his last Old Firm encounter at Ibrox before moving to Tottenham Hotspur. There was little at stake with the title already wrapped up before Rangers cruised to a 3-0 win, but Boyd reckons there were signs before then that Michael Beale was starting to get to grips with the champions.
But now Brendan Rodgers is back and Boyd expects the Hoops to push the boat out and bring in quality to try to leave Rangers in their rearview mirror once again. Jota is on the brink of a £25million move to Al-Ittihad, and a chunk of that colossal fee will likely be ploughed into Rodgers’ transfer budget, already thought to be around £30m. And that’s a daunting prospect for those of a blue persuasion after the progress they looked like making.
Asked if Beale would prefer to be facing Rodgers than Postecoglou, Boyd replied: “No, I don’t. Yeah there were a few Celtic fans upset when Brendan Rodgers left the first time, but that’s because of what he meant to them. There’s no doubt Brendan Rodgers is top manager, he's shown that throughout his managerial career.
“He was going to take a year out, but the lure to come back to Celtic was too big for him. It’s a project he wants to take on and right his wrongs. He’s not said sorry for his departure, he’s said sorry that he’s upset a lot of people in the process.
“Michael Beale probably looked at it and said, ‘We were getting closer to Ange Postecoglou’s team’. They beat them in the last game, albeit there was nothing there.
“But there were games beforehand where you felt as if they were getting closer, without really playing with a recognised striker. Alfredo Morelos played but he was way off it.
"So if I’m Michael Beale would have been looking at it and with one or two additions, they could maybe push Celtic closer. But Brendan Rodgers ain't coming up here if he isn't getting money to spend.
“They will spend money and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are three or four big singings coming into Celtic in the next few weeks.”
As for the best of the rest, Boyd thought Hearts were home and hosed last season before an almighty collapse allowed Aberdeen to nab third spot and the £5million Europa Conference League group stage bounty that came with it.
Despite that, he’s backing the Jambos to get it done this term. He told Sky Sports: "It was strange for Hearts last season because they were so far in front. Then they decided to sack Robbie Neilson.
“It’s a big ask when you look at Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs. You imagine the three of them will be fighting for that third and fourth place. For Hearts, they fell away towards the end of Robbie Neilson's time in charge. You would expect them to improve.
“They've lost a few players as well which is a blow. Josh Ginnelly has moved on and he did really for them last season but they’ve managed so far to keep a hold of (Lawrence Shankland) in terms of the goals that he scored.
“If they an create the opportunities, then he’ll take them. He’s shown that - he’s a penalty box striker who gets on the end of things and scores goals. So Stevie Naismith and Hearts are in a good place. They’ll have money to spend.
“They’ll be disappointed not to have finished third but they’ll be looking to push on and get that third place this season, because it does guarantee you group stage football. They can still get there themselves. But it is a lot more difficult when you have qualifiers to get through.”
READ NEXT:
