After a challenging summer at Ibrox, Rangers could use all the help they can get in the Scottish Premiership title race with Celtic.
As the Gers have toiled to snap up many of their leading summer transfer targets, Celtic have shown a much higher degree of stability.
Rangers have experienced a substantial squad overhaul, whilst Celtic – so far at least – have managed to hold on to many of their top players.
Having also splashed £9.5m on one player in Adam Idah, Celtic’s superior transfer budget is one of the biggest hurdles Rangers manager Philippe Clement will have to clear.
But the Belgian’s hand could be strengthened as Premier League giants Manchester City potentially prepare to tip the title balance back in Rangers’ favour.
Manchester City target Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi
Manchester City are on the hunt for a new striker having just sold back-up forward Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid to the tune of £82m.
That’s a healthy bank balance for the Citizens find their alternative and according to the Athletic, Pep Guardiola is casting his glances towards Celtic Park.
The report is claiming that Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi is one of two players being targeted as a back-up striker to Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.
Whilst the second option – which is younger than 29-year-old Furuhashi – hasn’t been named, Manchester City appear to be considering a switch for the Japanese striker.
The report doesn’t speculate on a price, but obviously Celtic losing Furuhashi would be a sizeable blow to the Parkhead side this summer.
The striker would be open to the move and Celtic would have to replace a player who is effectively their talisman and who has been a constant thorn in Rangers’ side.
Throw in Brighton interest in star midfielder Matt O’Riley, and rumbles about Leicester City and Reo Hatate, and suddenly Celtic face some late upheaval this summer.
Whilst we’re sure the Parkhead side would splash some cash to replace these guys, north of the border spending money comes with substantial risk attached and it hasn’t always worked out at either side of the Old Firm.
It’s just the Celtic’s domestic dominance has reduced the scrutiny at Parkhead.
Potential Rangers title boost amid player trading revamp
For the time being, Rangers can only dream of having a player trading model as effective as our fierce rivals across Glasgow.
Celtic have been the dominant transfer force in Scotland for a long time and have routinely banked big paydays from their playing squad.
Rangers, despite showing initial promise with the sales of Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey, have now see their ‘mythical’ player trading grind to a painful halt.
That’s the words of Rangers chairman John Bennett, not ours.
Moves for the likes of Mohamed Diomande, Jefte, Oscar Cortes and Hamza Igamane have been done with the intention of reversing the trend.
But they remain in the early stages of their Rangers careers, with everything to prove before anyone from England’s top flight will come calling.
Celtic haven’t always used their money wisely over the years and even if they recoup top dollar for Furuhashi, O’Riley and Hatate, the upheaval will raise nerves in the east end.
In what’s been a challenging summer for everyone at Rangers, such late change is something which threatens to tip the title scales ever so slightly back towards Ibrox.
