Rangers raked in £18.1m in unexpected prize money from the UEFA Europa League Final and the club must use the funds to drive summer investment.
The Ibrox side are gearing up for a summer of evolution with several players out of contract and Michael Beale reiterating that there will be changes.
But as questions remain over where the money is coming from, the £18m Rangers made in official UEFA prize money in the run to the Europa League Final can act as a foundation for the summer.
Rangers will need to spend to take their team to the next level and to close the gap with Celtic and expectation is certainly rising ahead of the summer.
Rangers fans might not want to go over the pain of the Europa League Final defeat to Frankfurt, the Ibrox side losing on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Seville, but the run worked wonders for the club’s finances and profile.
Rangers Europa League prize money rakes in millions
As per UEFA’s latest financial report, Rangers’ Europa League prize money is broken up as follows: £3.15m starting fee, £800,000 for their coefficient, £2.5m for TV, £2.1m for their group stage performance, £430,000 for their knockout round win, £1.05m for their Round of 16, £1.5m for the quarter-finals, £2.45m for the semi-final and a £4m runners-up prize.
UEFA’s Europa League surplus share was also awarded to all clubs, taking Rangers up to £18.1 million.
Now it’s about using the steps taken with regards both via the Europa League Final to attract and secure talent which can go on and wrestle back the Scottish Premiership title from Celtic.
Rangers manager Michael Beale has claimed that there is a big transfer pot than usual to spend and that will be in no small part down to the UEFA Europa League Final prize money.
“There are no restrictions on budget,” Beale said.
“There is money to spend in the summer. It’s a good amount for a Rangers manager compared to what I’ve seen in previous years.
“So I’m really, really positive about the summer. But at the moment we’re still playing this season, there are things to play for. I appreciate everyone wants us to communicate outwards which players we’re signing, which ones are going to be here.
“It doesn’t work like that. We’ve got to get this season played first. We’ve got big games. So being respectful to everyone and the players inside you keep it in. But the work is a long way down the road.”
