Hotline

GAVIN BERRY ANSWERS YOUR CALLS

CELTIC fans scoffed at a caller on yesterday’s Hotline who claimed Rangers are only a couple of players short of challenging their Old Firm rivals.

As it stands Jamie Murphy and Sean Goss have been brought in on loan as Graeme Murty’s side look to bridge an 11-point gap in the second half of the season.

Brian McDermott, Maryhill, said: “Caller Joe Carmichael reckons Rangers are only a couple of players away from challenging Celtic. “He’s right – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo!”

Lance Little, Erskine, said: “I want a pint of whatever Joe Carmichael drinks. One lucky draw at Parkhead, 11 points behind Celtic, looking for payday loans and he thinks they’re catching Celtic. “It’s either sheer arrogance or stupidity.”

John O’Donnell emailed: “Who are the two players Joe Carmichael said are needed for Rangers to challenge Celtic? Messi and Ronaldo?”

The challenge for Rangers might not seem so big if the Hoops cash in on Moussa Dembele, with Brendan Rodgers admitting during Celtic’s training camp in Dubai that non-stop speculation is messing with the striker’s mind.

But despite the Frenchman being linked with a string of clubs the Parkhead boss insists they haven’t received a single bid.

Ian Loudon emailed: “If Dembele was so good Fulham wouldn’t have let him go in the first place and when they did Premier League teams would have snapped him up. It reminds me of another world beater Jordan Rhodes.” Neil Kinnell, Keltybridge, said: “Rodgers isn’t much of a salesmen when he’s trying to seek a buyer for Dembele for tens of millions of pounds but almost in the same breath is suggesting all the transfer talk is affecting him mentally.

“Dembele is a one-season wonder. Real world-class players don’t get affected mentally by transfer