RANGERS NOT A SPENT FORCE
Rodgers insists rivals’ summer outlay proves they have real designs on title
BRENDAN RODGERS insists that Rangers will expect to challenge for the Premiership title this season after outspending Celtic in the summer.
In contrast to the bravado of the ‘Going for 55’ card display with which Rangers kicked off the 2016-17 campaign under Mark Warburton, neither Pedro Caixinha or any of his players have made any public comments about a title tilt this term.
However, Rodgers believes the Ibrox club’s close-season transfer business was a clear indication that his opposite number Caixinha is expected to improve significantly on last season’s third-place finish, which saw Rangers end up a full 39 points behind the champions.
Celtic dominated the Old Firm games last term, twice winning by a 5-1 scoreline, but looking ahead to next weekend’s first derby of the season, Rodgers is in no doubt of Rangers’ intentions.
He said: ‘I’ve seen a little bit of Rangers. They have clearly spent money in the summer. They spent more money than us — and we are a Champions League club.
‘So that tells you that their idea is to win the league. It’s not to finish third. Not to finish second above Aberdeen. It’s to win the league.
‘They have come into the season with that mentality.’
Although Celtic did the single biggest piece of transfer business in Scotland through the £4.5million capture of Olivier Ntcham from Manchester City, Rangers reportedly spent seven-figure fees on each deal for Carlos Pena, Alfredo Morelos, Eduardo Herrera, Fabio Cardoso and Graham Dorrans.
Celtic forked out £1.3m to sign Jonny Hayes from Aberdeen and also brokered loan moves for Patrick Roberts and Odsonne Edouard, but Rodgers was left frustrated by the club’s inability to secure the experienced centre-half he coveted to boost his side’s Champions League efforts.
Celtic remain domestically strong, beating Ross County to remain top of the table yesterday after Rangers passed up a chance to temporarily move to the summit by dropping points in the 2-2 draw at Partick Thistle on Friday night.
‘Pedro obviously came in last season and was able to assess,’ continued Rodgers.
‘They have signed some good players and are playing a basic shape in terms of 4-4-2, nothing complicated, get the ball wide, crosses in the box.
‘I’m sure they will be reasonably happy with how they have started.’