Sir Kenny Dalglish has claimed that Celtic and not Rangers are going to enter the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership season as the favourites.
The Liverpool legend believes Celtic have been able to strengthen their squad during the summer whereas Rangers have had to lose two of their best players from the previous season.
Bassey and Joe Aribo have both left for high-profile deals and Sir Kenny believes, GvB will need time to fill these voids and properly rebuild his first XI.
“Calvin Bassey’s £20-million departure from Rangers to Ajax has been the main headline to date from the summer transfer window in Scotland,” he said in his Sunday Post column.
“From a financial point of view, it was great business for the Ibrox club. The departures of Aribo and Bassey may have helped the balance sheet, but football is not all about money. It’s about winning and being successful.
“However, the Rangers manager will not be sulking. He knows it’s part and parcel of football. You have to deal with the blow of losing an outstanding player and quickly move on. It’s all about how you recover from it, and the calibre of player that you bring in to fill the void.
“Giovanni will also be looking at the situation over at Celtic, and seeing that Ange Postecoglou has improved his squad.
“Sure, the transfer window is open for another six weeks or so, and Rangers might yet do more business. But the Parkhead club looks very strong.
“Right now, they are favourites for the Premiership. Rangers will really need to produce something very special to stop them. But league titles are never won on paper. It’s what you do out on the park.
🗣️ Jürgen Klopp: “Rangers is a fantastic club, a big club. Ben belongs on a big stage for sure. European football as well. This presents a proper opportunity to demonstrate his quality and composure.
“As a person he’s as good a guy as you could hope to meet. https://t.co/9hnXh76RKJ pic.twitter.com/2IX98Rqv4B
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 19, 2022
“It’s about ability, mentality and desire from the players, and it’s about organisation and man-management in the dugout.
“The Old Firm games last season were very tight, and I don’t think that will change.”
Will Celtic be able to defend their title or will Rangers outshine them?
Rangers FC had a dream run in the Europa League last season as they had reached the final but in the Premiership, it was Celtic who were the dominating force.
As Sir Kenny said, Ange Postecoglou has wasted no time bringing in all the reinforcements and the Parkhead outfit have made some really great signings in the previous few months.
They have permanently signed both Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers and at the same time, they have been able to bring in experienced players like Aaron Mooy.
On the other hand, Rangers FC have been slow to use the transfer money from the Aribo and Bassey deals and this could be the major hurdle in challenging Celtic for the Premiership title.
The Gers have brought in players like Ben Davies and Derby County’s Tom Lawrence but it remains to be seen if they can fill the boots of the two outgoing stars.
Both the Glasgow sides are seller clubs so this rebuilding phase is nothing new for either of them. It’s just a matter of time before Rangers FC get back on their feet but the Scottish Premiership is a league of fine margins so even two or three unexpected defeats can help tilt the league in favour of Celtic.
