Charlie Nicholas believes that Rangers have got the better of the summer transfer deals.
It’s a familiar message from the former Celtic striker who uses his Tuesday column in the Express to find the clouds on every silver lining.
Recently he was bemoaning the failure to sign Scott McKenna who is already injured after making one appearance for Nottingham Forest following his move from Aberdeen.
Had Nicholas slated the Celtic board for leaving Neil Lennon short on reinforcements for the Champions League qualifiers he would have had a valid point but rather than waste money on projects like Vakoun Bayo and Marian Shved the arrivals this window are ‘oven ready’ and good to go.
Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti have international experience and have started well while David Turnbull was the best prospect in Scottish football at Motherwell.
After signing Moi Elyounoussi and Shane Duffy to go straight into the side bringing in a Uruguay international defender from AC Milan on loan fills a massive hole in the squad. Step forward Diego Laxalt.
Picking up on his glass half empty column in the Express, the Daily Record reports:
I said Celtic would go cheap in their pursuit of a left-back. I knew they wouldn’t spend money on a defender that Neil Lennon has been ever so patient for. I don’t think Lennon has been given much of a helping hand, if I am being honest.
He had to work double time to get anything out of so-called wealthy Celtic. I’d imagine he’ll be pretty annoyed this morning. I am sure he will put on a brave face but I don’t think he will have got anything close to what he was looking for. Albian Ajeti will get him goals but there are still question marks in other areas of the Celtic team.
Rangers must be looking at it thinking that they got the better of the deals. Celtic were a stronger side last season. The main positive for Lennon, right, is that all his main players are staying, although I am not convinced Olivier Ntcham, Kris Ajer and Tom Rogic are happy.
In this mad season we have been looking short-term with the rest of the clubs because there is no real money out there.
Following the loan signings of Jermain Defoe and Steve Davis in January 2019 Nicholas tipped an Ibrox title party. Despite losing Brendan Rodgers Celtic went on to clinch a Treble Treble with Davis and Defoe having memories not medals to show for their efforts.