With just two weeks to go until the start of the Scottish Premiership season, anticipation is building for all clubs in the division.
The title race, the battle for European places, the top six race and the relegation battle are all set to be thrilling, but what contest your team ends up in depends largely on the success of the summer.
This is the time of year that supporters are either filled with expectation due to a summer of signings or in contrast, the fear is beginning to creep in with a lack of player activity at the club you love.
It has been a busy window so far in Scotland, but some clubs have certainly been busier than others. Here we rate how the 12 top flight sides are building ahead of the start of the Premiership campaign.
Aberdeen
Barry Robson has strengthened excellently this summer with deals done for key members of his squad who were on loan at the club last season.
Graeme Shinnie and Leighton Clarkson are at different ends of their footballing careers, but both were equally as important for the Dons last term and to tie them up on permanent deals was fine business from the Granite City club.
In terms of new faces, Slovenian Ester Sokler hit the ground running with four goals in his debut as Aberdeen defeated Turriff United in a friendly.
Defender Rhys Williams also arrives from Liverpool and it will be interesting to see how he compares to the outgoing Ross McCrorie. The Scotland international will be a loss to the Dons after he completed his move to Bristol City this summer.
Celtic
Brendan Rodgers arrived at Celtic for his second spell at the club with the squad in a strong position. He has since added midfielders Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio, while Tomoki Iwata's loan deal became permanent. Defensive reinforcements are still needed for the Scottish champions though and that was reinforced as they conceded six in pre-season against Yokohama F. Marinos.
The likes of Volendam centre-back Xaiver Mybuyamba and Legia Warsaw’s Maik Nawrocki have since been linked with moves to Celtic, while the requirement of a new No1 choice goalkeeper has already been discussed.
Dundee
Tony Docherty will be aiming to hit the ground running in his first job as a manager in his own right when Dundee return to the Scottish Premiership this season. The Dens Park outfit have added experience to their squad but there are also a couple of unknowns who have moved to the City of Discovery.
Joe Shaughnessy and Scott Tiffoney look like solid signings from St Mirren and Partick Thistle respectively, while Malachi Boateng looked impressive during a loan stint at Queen’s Park last season in the Championship.
In terms of the unknown, Mexican duo Diego Pineda and Antonio Portales look to be total gambles, but Docherty will be hoping it will be a case of the gamble paying off.
Hearts
A quiet summer at Tynecastle has resulted in frustration from supporters heading into the new campaign. With just 14 days to go until a season opener against St Johnstone, Steven Naimsith’s side have only brought in 39-year-old goalkeeper Michael McGovern on a free transfer.
13 players have exited the club this summer and with just one coming in, there is still work to do for the capital city outfit.
The Gorgie side have reportedly agreed a six-figure fee with Western Sydney Wanderers for defensive midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof, but a new central defender and attacking player to replace Josh Ginnelly is still needed.
Hibernian
Hibs have clearly strengthened in areas where they struggled last year and that will be a real positive for Easter Road fans. Creativity in the middle of the park was a problem for Lee Johnson’s side last term, but the arrival of Dylan Levitt should solve that issue. The former Dundee United man was a standout in a poor campaign for the Terrors last term and he will be looking to carry that form into his career in the capital.
The departure of Kevin Nisbet was always going to be a loss for Hibs but they have strengthened in the striking department with the experienced Adam Le Fondre signing on the dotted line. Another striker, a No9 type, is still needed, but Hibs look to be moving in the right direction.
Kilmarnock
Derek McInnes has added Scottish Premiership experience to his squad and that is exactly what Killie needed. The return of winger Matty Kennedy could be a real get, especially given a number of Premiership rivals were also chasing his signature. The former St Johnstone and Aberdeen man will provide further pace and skill to a final third that already has the attacking talents of Danny Armstrong.
Robbie Deas, who joined from Inverness, Stuart Finlay who rejoined the club on loan from Oxford and Lewis Mayo who signed permanently from Rangers are also strong signings that will help to tighten up Killie at the back.
Kyle Maggenis who joined on a free after his release from Hibernian will also be a handy addition in the middle of the park.
Livingston
David Martindale has been on the hunt for defensive reinforcements this summer after Jack Fitzwater and Nicky Devlin both departed the club. The signings of experienced duo Michael Devlin and Michael Nottingham will help to plug those gaps and on paper it looks to be good business from the Lions.
Outgoings will be more of a worry for Martindale going forward though, especially given the increased transfer talk surrounding striker Joel Nouble. The 27-year-old has been constantly linked with a move away from Scotland following his impressive campaign last season.
Motherwell
There is still work to do for Stuart Kettlewell and his Steelmen with some key departures still to be replaced. Departures of Max Johnston, Dean Cornelius, Sean Goss and of course, Kevin van Veen, have been far from ideal and questions have been raised about the standard of replacements coming in.
A lot is riding on Jon Obika and former Walsall striker Connor Wilkinson to produce the goals for Motherwell, but they have a lot to live up to given the exploits of Van Veen last term.
Midfield additions are also needed with pressure mounting on 16-year-old Lennon Miller, who has already impressed in the Viaplay League Cup.
Rangers
Michael Beale has been busy in his first summer as Rangers manager with seven new faces arriving to help bolster the club’s title challenge next season. There is now a new look about the Ibrox squad with the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent and Scott Arfield being replaced by Cyriel Dessers, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima and Sam Lammers.
The early signs in pre-season look good for Rangers and that is a huge positive for Beale with key Champions League qualifiers to come. The Govan outfit are still linked with Brazilian attacker Danilo and Ecuadorian midfielder Jose Cifuentes, so there could well be more business to come before the window is slammed shut.
Ross County
The Staggies staved off relegation at the final hour last season as they defeated Partick Thistle on penalties in the Premiership play-off final, and the Highland outfit look determined to ensure it does not come that close again given their busy transfer window so far.
Malky Mackay has brought in seven new faces to his Dingwall side and there is plenty for fans to get excited about. Kyle Turner from Partick Thistle looks a shrewd signing in midfield, while the permanent signing of Eamonn Brophy gives County a strong striking force alongside Jordan White, Simon Murray and Alex Samuel.
The signing of Max Sheaf from Redditch United for an undisclosed will be an interesting one to keep an eye on as he aims to make the jump back to professional football.
St Johnstone
This summer was always going to be a bit of a clear-out for the Perth Saints with a huge squad assembled last season under the leadership of Callum Davidson. New manager Steven MacLean has since stated that his strategy will be quality over quantity, which may reflect on St Johnstone’s business so far this window.
At the end of the season, 17 players exited the club, and just two has been brought in, with goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov joining on a free from Cambridge United and striker Luke Jephcott also being confirmed today. MacLean is still desperately searching for a central defender and winger to add to his squad though.
St Mirren
For Stephen Robinson, it was a case of strengthening in forward areas this summer with Curtis Main, Tony Watt and Eamonn Brophy all leaving the club. Northern Ireland international Conor McMenamin has since come in and another striker is reportedly on the way.
When the new forward comes in that will likely conclude the Buddies’ business this summer and Robinson insists his squad is in a stronger position than they were at the close of play last term.
Israeli youngster Stav Nahmani, who arrived on loan from Maccabi Haifa, is somewhat of an unknown quantity, but Saints fans will be excited to see what he can bring in the attacking third of the pitch.
