The full extent of the summer rebuild at Ibrox is starting to emerge.Â
With this season’s title almost out of sight the gamble of hoping that a group of players that have won just one domestic honour could hold out for a second Premiership title win has almost certainly backfired.Â
A year ago Celtic were staring at an overhaul after gambling on Peter Lawwell and Neil Lennon delivering a 10th successive title. While Celtic had sellable assets and a handful of players for their new manager to work with at Ibrox the picture looks very different. Trying to build a trophy winning squad around James Tavernier and Ianis Hagi is a big ask!Â
From the team that lost to Celtic on Sunday Allan McGregor, Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun are out of contract next month with no word of renewal talks.Â
Aaron Ramsey will return to Juventus as will substitute Amad Diallo. Steven Davis and Scott Arfield are also out of contract.Â
Transfer guru Ross Wilson will have to weave some magic to bring in top fees for Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo, with Nathan Patterson still waiting for his EPL debut the omens aren’t promising.Â
Last season’s title win cost the Directors £23.5m, sustaining losses of that level has created expectations among supporters who will soon be asked to shell out for 2022/23 Season Tickets with very little certainties over which players they will be watching.Â
It takes money to build a team. On a good day they could maybe pull in £20-25m, being very generous, Aribo, Kent, Barisic, Roofe, Freddo, Hagi and a little for some others.
Big ask to put a new team together for £20m and the will most likely be paying the management team off.
Penalty clause for Sydney cup, Big Mike, HMRC, Director loans, CL money to the Celts, and Dave on the fringes mobilising his henchmen for a dirty war.
No looking good at all. They will never learn.
Celts on the other hand will get some loanees back in the squad and could add 2 or 3 more quality assets. One thing ange has got is an eye and an ear for a player, skill and attitude.
God damn this cost of living crisis – how will I afford to pay for all the jelly and ice cream that’s going to need gleefully scoffed??