Summer £40M transfer deficit is a problem for Rangers | OneFootball

Rangers have a massive, massive problem this summer, and that problem is simple:

Rangers cannot afford anywhere near the financial muscle Celtic now have, because not only were they already considerably ahead of us in the balance books, but ‘thanks’ to their winning the SPL, they have just guaranteed a summer budget of about £70M, due to league prize money and the guaranteed ~£60M clubs participating in the Champions League next season are rewarded with. Just for being there.

Unfortunately, Rangers cannot budget for the same amount, because we have no guarantee of getting through the qualifiers, meaning Philippe Clement can only be given around £25M give or take, and that’s where it stops.

In short, Celtic, already financially years ahead of Rangers, can now add a further £60M-£70M to their budget for this summer, while Rangers can’t.

We may still get into the Champions League, and end up with the same amount of cash for our participation, but it would be far too high risk to budget for that amount now not knowing that we will definitely earn it.

Meaning, that Celtic have a tonne more financial muscle this summer, and unless Rangers are absolutely brilliant in the transfer window, with incredible signings and canny use of comparatively miniscule funds, it’s hard to see us overturning the dark side over the course of the summer months.

It’s really very basic – they have more money already, and can now budget for a huge transfer window. Rangers can’t, we can only aim for about £25M tops, and then hope that we qualify by the playoffs in late August, giving us a mighty 10 days to sign players with the £65M or so we would THEN be guaranteed.

It means rather than us playing catch up with Celtic, we’re trying to slow down as best we can how much further ahead they’re going to get.

Not winning the SPL, choking the lead, has been dreadful, and its implications as far-reaching as not winning the Europa League final in 2022. With the changes to next season’s Champions League, this was a stinker of a league to lose.

Rangers seem to fall short everywhere every time and when we do, it sets us back an ice age.

One title since 2011 and this loss was especially damaging.

How can any Rangers manager compete this summer with barely a third of the budget Celtic will have?

Answers on a postcard.