The £20m reason Rangers can't touch Celtic as Hoops eye up free scoring EFL midfielder - Parkhead transfer bulletin
Celtic's summer transfer business showed exactly why Rangers can't touch them - and the gap between the two isn't likely to narrow any time soon.
That's the view of former Hoops striker Andy Walker who sees £20million worth of reasons his old team are lightyears ahead. Celtic reinvested the vast majority of the fee they banked from Matt O'Riley's sale, bringing Adam Idah back to the club for £9m before splashing out £11m on Arne Engels. They also spent on Auston Trusty and, to a lesser extent, Luke McCowan, and we're seeing the fruits of that labour as they've won 10 games from 11 in the league and dramatically improved in Europe.
Fans have been crying out for that type of serious investment and Walker reckons it shows why they're so far ahead of their rivals as things stand. He said on Go Radio: "I think Celtic now have taken a different view with Brendan Rodgers coming back. They’re now spending at a level that Rangers can’t get anywhere near.
“When you’re investing in a 20-year-old at £10m or £11m and investing in another talent that’s a centre-forward but he cost you £9million, that’s at a level that I didn’t think Celtic would go to, but Brendan Rodgers I think coming back has made Celtic change their approach.
“We’re beginning to see signs of what it means on the pitch because Celtic look like a team that can compete at a really good level in Europe.”
And there could be more to come as the Hoops are reported to be considering a move for Burnley's Josh Brownhill. The 28-year-old, currently skipper at Turf Moor, is enjoying a great start to the season in the Championship having scored five times in 15 games from a central midfield position.
Celtic currently have their first choice midfield established with Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels while Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo are rotation options beyond that. But outside of that quintet, there isn't much experience with Odin Thiago Holm the next down the pecking order.
67 Hail Hail report that Brownhill's name has been mentioned behind the scenes and, available on a free transfer in the summer as things stand, he represents a potential bargain.
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