Paul Lambert states what would happen if Celtic and Rangers were in the English Premier League

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There has always been talk of Celtic and Rangers landing in the English Premier League.

For a while, both Glasgow clubs could boast and sign some serious top talents from across Europe, with the great Henrik Larsson representing the Hoops and Paul Gascoigne for Rangers.

But the emergence of the Premier League in 1992 eventually resulted in the financial gap between Scotland and England widening and widening.

It has meant that the likes of Celtic and Rangers could no longer compete with their European rivals, and on a number of occasions, find that their top stars head for the exit door, for smaller clubs with bigger back pockets.

But what would happen if that sort of money were given to those fighting it out in Glasgow?

• READ MORE: ‘Celtic would welcome that’ – Rangers pundit is expecting the Hoops to pull off an exciting transfer

Celtic and Rangers in the Premier League

Ray Parlour was commenting on Celtic’s hopes in the Champions League and how they are unable to compete because of their finances.

That’s when Paul Lambert jumped in and stated that if you gave English Premier League-type money to his former side or the Gers, then they would be ‘right up there.’

Speaking on talkSPORT, Lambert added that Celtic and Rangers would need ‘a few years to find their feet’ before they would showcase to the world what they are all about.

“It’s really hard, isn’t it, to compete in Europe,” said Parlour. “With the prize money. What they get in the Premier League.

“If you look at the bottom team in the Premier League. They get £100-odd million. What do Celtic get to win the league? To compete with the teams around Europe, they do really well to get to where they get to, with the budget that they have.”

Lambert added: “They do, Ray. But I think Walter Smith, god rest him, said it years ago, I have said it a long time ago.

“If you give Celtic and Rangers the same budget as what they get in the Premier League, you give them a few years to find their feet, and I will guarantee you they will be right up there. Just because of the size of the clubs.”

Nothing like the Glasgow derby between Celtic and Rangers

What money can’t buy is rivalry, that deep-rooted hate from the stands, and the greatest derby of them all.

Certainly in British football, nothing tops the Glasgow derby, and Lambert wanted to put that across after experiencing it as a player.

“Alan (Brazil) has been there,” stated Lambert. “You (Parlour) have probably been there. The Glasgow derby. There is no game like it. I don’t care what anybody says.

“The game and the size of the clubs are astronomical. It doesn’t matter who comes to Parkhead, you have got to win, and people can’t handle that pressure. People don’t like it. But you have to win. It doesn’t matter who is coming to Celtic Park because of the demand on it.”