Hugh Keevins is still tipping Celtic to win the league but has fired a warning to Brendan Rodgers and co.
Celtic have made six signings this summer and are still the overwhelming favourites to win the league despite the recent changes going on at Ibrox.
Russell Martin is undergoing a summer transformation and made plenty of signings in a bid to finally topple the Bhoys.
It will be interesting to see just how close the title race will go, but Keevins has told Rodgers and the club how they should feel if they miss out on the title to their Glasgow rivals.
Hugh Keevins thinks Celtic would’ve wasted financial advantage if Rangers win the league
There is plenty of money available at Celtic Park and the transfer kitty has been boosted by Nicolas Kuhn’s move to Como.
In theory, Celtic can operate in a market that Rangers or any divisional rivals cannot compete with, and it’s why Keevins thinks the Hoops would’ve wasted all financial advantage if they allow Rangers to swoop in and stop five-in-a-row.
Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: “If Russell Martin assembles a team of players brought in from the likes of Luton, Bournemouth, Peterborough, and Wolverhampton and wins the Premiership this season it will amount to three things rolled into one.
“Audacious. Outrageous. And excruciating for the rest.
“It will mean Celtic have made nothing of every financial advantage they hold over their greatest rivals.
Rangers didn’t challenge Celtic last season because they couldn’t stop shedding points against supposedly inferior opposition.”
Celtic still taking a ‘step towards’ being ready for the season
While Rangers gear up for their Champions League qualifier, Celtic are still getting up to speed in pre-season.
Rodgers’ side lost 3-2 to Estrela da Amadora behind closed doors in Portugal and disappointed, even though the likes of Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren got their first minutes of the season.
The Celtic manager blamed tiredness for the result but still saw enough to suggest they’ll be ready for the season.
He told Celtic TV: “We’re only a couple of weeks in and there were some good moments.
“Some not so good, some young players getting opportunities, some players playing their first minutes of pre-season. It’s another step towards where we want to get to.
“We’ll get sharper. The guys have had a heavy week, so they were maybe a wee bit leggy today.”
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