Michael Beale and the Rangers recruitment staff will be assessing the upcoming transfer market closely and the Hotline callers have plenty of advice.
Celtic are already off and running in the market as the signings of Alistair Johnston and Yuki Kobayashi are in the building and Japanese midfielder Tomoki Iwata is set to join them with business brisk in the East End of Glasgow. Ibrox boss Beale has said he’ll take a close look at his current squad before making any moves, but there are several ideas being put forward on the Hotline .
Kenny Dempsey, Linlithgow, said: “Rangers need to get a goalkeeper sorted. Allan McGregor is past his best and it’s already been seen that Jon McLaughlin can’t be trusted long term. Zander Clark should have been signed long before Hearts got a hold of him. He was on the go for nothing.” Jamie Thompson, Clydebank, continued: “Rangers need to forget signing Nicolas Raskin or Ross Stewart. They won’t be coming to Ibrox.
“Beale should be looking at China and other Asian leagues. There is real talent that could be brought to Rangers. I cannot understand why our youth success is so bad. Adam Devine is a top prospect for the future, but there has to be more.”
Andrew White, Lochgelly, said: “Rangers are stale and need some freshness injected into the side. Various positions could be doing with a new player in the area.”
Celtic fans have their new signings, but the capture of Canadian Johnston opens the way for Josip Juranovic to leave following his exploits at the World Cup. Fresh injury woes for England international Reece James has put Chelsea firmly in the mix for the Croatian, but some of the figures of less than £10 million mentioned south of the border in terms of taking him to the English Premiership have been booted on the Hotline.
Eddie Parker, Glasgow, said: “Juranovic came back from Qatar with a medal around his neck and the English, who think nothing of shelling out £30 and £40 million for squad players, feel they can burgle Celtic for him. Gimme peace.”
Willie McGurk, Bailleston, added: “Celtic should try for £20 million, but certainly should not be accepting any less than £15 million. Chelsea are desperate with James now injured. If they want him, pay up.”
In other matters, Henry Moffat, Stirling, appears to have some beef with a fellow Hotliner. He said: “Excuse me for taking a few days to reply to Chris Lowe’s attack on Celtic’s Euro form, but it has taken me this long to stop laughing. His team managed as many shots on target at home in the entire campaign as we managed in the Bernabeu and finished as the worst Champions League team ever. Don’t start me off again.”
Meanwhile, a final message came to wish good luck to injured Craig Gordon from a young well-wisher who is going through the same broken leg misery as the Hearts and Scotland No.1. Signed as Oliver having come from another email address, it read: “Get well soon Craig. I am nine years old and just recovering from the same football injury, so I am looking forward to seeing you in Scotland shirt again.”
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