Rangers boss Mark Warburton is struggling to plug the gap from Ibrox to Parkhead.
Former Rangers player and manager Stuart McCall has spoken of the massive investment that might be needed at Ibrox if the club are to bridge the gap back to their Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Rangers returned to the top flight this season after a four-year absence and have struggled to keep pace with their local rivals – who are running away with the Scottish Premiership title.
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McCall, who spent seven years at Ibrox as a player before managing the side briefly in 2015, believes the club need to do the best investing they can – but joked only the signing of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo would bridge the gap at present.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun he stated:
“I’m just hoping Rangers have got a transfer war chest somewhere so they can go and buy Messi and Ronaldo to stop Celtic!
“Kidding aside, it’s natural if you are a Rangers-minded person that you should fear Celtic getting there.
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“We can talk all we like about youth structures and progression. But if Rangers are going to stop Celtic before they get nine or ten, there will have to be a huge financial input.”
Rangers’ demise down the Scottish football ladder came courtesy of some dreadful management of the club’s financial affairs and that has seen the club take a move cautious approach to transfer dealings in recent times.
Former Rangers interim manager Stuart McCall
But the Ibrox club have still shown their reputation can attract big names, with the likes of Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar and Philippe Senderos all joining the club – albeit with limited success.
If they can get to a position where money can be spent more regularly, then Rangers will no doubt start closing the gap to their Old Firm rivals soon.
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