Rangers have come out of the summer transfer window with all of their big guns still in place at Ibrox amid reported interest in a host of first-team stars in recent months – but the Gers‘ success in the transfer window means that anything but a second successive title triumph for Steven Gerrard’s side would be a massive failure.
Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Glen Kamara, Ianis Hagi, James Tavernier, Borna Barisic and Nathan Patterson are just some of the Rangers stars linked with an Ibrox exit over the summer but when the transfer window closed on Tuesday night, it was only Cedric Itten and Niko Katic who had departed.
Keeping the bulk of last season’s title-winning side is massive for the Light Blues with their Old Firm rivals undergoing something of a drastic rebuild over the summer as everyone from the chief executive to much of the starting XI were replaced.
The failure to reach the Champions League this season had many expecting at least one big exit before the deadline and after his post-match show of emotion following the Old Firm, it looked as though Borna Barisic was the one heading out as rumours of a £12million deal to Roma swirled on social media.
The financial shortfall at Rangers in recent seasons has been no secret with directors stepping up to plug the gap as the Gers gradually get back towards operating on a self-sufficient basis financially and, after the title glory of 2020/21, most fans probably had themselves steeled mentally for a little bit of belt-tightening.
When it didn’t materialise though, it has made it abundantly clear that going on and winning the title this season is absolutely vital both on and off the pitch.
The prospect of this season’s Scottish champions getting automatic entry to the Champions League group stage – and the massive pool of funds that comes with it – can make an incredible difference for Rangers.
Facing up to the prospect of losing some of the club’s biggest names next summer is something few Rangers fans will want – but without Champions League football you can’t help but fear the Gers’ hand will be forced.
After winning the opening Old Firm game of the season last weekend though, the momentum is clearly with Rangers in the title race.
After romping to the biggest margin over Celtic ever last season, the title is sure to be a closer affair this time around as Gerrard and Ange Postecoglou battle it out.
However, with so much at stake for Rangers, it is hard to see beyond Steven Gerrard’s side again this season.
But if Postecoglou and Celtic can manage to wrestle the Premiership trophy back across Glasgow come May, it could pose some real problems for the Rangers hierarchy.
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