Celtic need to spend £50m on summer refurbishment, says Chris Sutton | Football news
Chris Sutton believes Celtic may need to spend more than £50m on their squad this summer if they are to retain their Premiership title and qualify for the Champions League.
Martin O’Neill led Celtic to their fifth successive title on the final day of the season in May as a fractured campaign on and off the pitch ended with two wins, with victory over Dunfermline also securing Scottish Cup success.
However, while Celtic have enjoyed dominance in recent years, they were minutes away from winning the title by Hearts, with a change of management and fan protests outside the stadium over last season’s recruitment disruption.
Sutton believes those recruitment issues are still a concern and thinks the departure of key players could cost Celtic more money in the summer window as they look to overhaul key areas at the club.
“Martin did wonders last season. I didn’t see Celtic win the title in the position he was placed in for a few seasons,” he told Sky Sports News. “I mean that the game that is coming to the end of the season was unusual, but I still think that you cannot escape the fact that there must be a big change in Celtic in terms of recruitment.
“They’ve got a very important Champions League qualifier and, although it was great for Celtic fans to finally get over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic have been struggling all season. So, Martin will be looking, I’m sure, to bring in players.
“It will be interesting to see who comes out of Celtic. It looks like Reo Hatate will go, maybe Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels but they are big players in the club. So, who will Celtic replace those type of players? I think Celtic will spend up to or more than £50m really because the squad needs to be rebuilt.”
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Kris Boyd rates Celtic’s Scottish Premiership fixtures and highlights the importance of the Old Firm’s first game.
Celtic will begin their next Premiership campaign with a trip to Dundee on August 3, live on Sky Sportsand will host Rangers in the first Old Firm game of the season on September 20. However, before that, they will have to negotiate a Champions League tie on August 18/19.
Celtic failed to qualify for the Champions League group stage last season, losing in the play-offs on penalties to Kairat Almaty and Sutton believes hard work has been done over the summer to ensure the club return to Europe’s top table.
“The team looked tired last season at times,” he said. “The question is, is the squad from last season ready to win the Scottish Premiership title this season, were they able to challenge in Europe? I think it will be difficult again this season if Celtic do not bring players. Everyone sees what has to happen.
Celtic just beat Hearts last season
“I think Martin O’Neill will know that. So, recruitment is very important. And Champions League football, again, that Champions League qualifier is huge for Celtic. It can change the mood of the club and the surroundings. You go to that in the Champions League and the fans will be happy. You don’t go through and the old misery will start again.”
Boyd: Rangers need a good start | Sutton: Röhl had no stomach for Rangers
Rangers begin their Premiership season with a trip to Tannadice to face Dundee United in what will be Derek McInnes’ first competitive game.
Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd says Rangers must get off to a good start after a poor start to the season hampered their title bid last week.
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Kris Boyd gives his thoughts on Rangers’ opening six games in the Scottish Premiership season, stressing the importance of Derek McInnes getting off to a good start.
“Going to Dundee United is a good opening game, then Hibs at home and St Mirren after that, two home games, we have a chance to build momentum before going to Aberdeen,” said Boyd.
“For Rangers it’s an opportunity to get points on the board.
“They have to start well and see where that takes them because if you are behind in this league it can be difficult to get back to it and we have seen the change that happened at Ibrox last season because of a bad start so I think that Rangers and Derek McInnes will want to start really well.
Lawrence Shankland left Hearts to join Rangers this summer
McInnes replaced Danny Röhl at Ibrox after the German took over at RB Salzburg and Sutton thinks Rangers would be better off with a change of management.
“Danny Röhl had no stomach,” Sutton said. “He went or, you know, went to Salzburg. But Derek comes in.
“Last season at Hearts, they pushed Celtic all the way. I thought he did very well. He proved himself to the management and I think he was a really smart appointment by Rangers.
Danny Rohl was in charge of the Rangers for less than eight months
“When it came to the top at the end of the season, Rangers lost four games on the spin. Everything changed then and Röhl’s behavior changed.
“And I don’t think it was a big surprise to anyone that he ended up leaving. So, I think Rangers are better off without him. And, you know, Derek McInnes is a good appointment.”
Can Hearts compete again?
Hearts are yet to announce a replacement for McInnes and will have their own rebuild to deal with following the departure of captain Lawrence Shankland at Ibrox.
Apart from that, Boyd believes that Hearts are capable of challenging for the title and insists that Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics will be important if that happens.
Derek McInnes and Lawrence Shankland have left Hearts to join Rangers
“Hearts have lost their manager and their captain and their talisman in Lawrence Shankland but I think they will only get stronger,” said Boyd. “Yes, last season they were running at Celtic so far, but I think with Jamestown Analytics and the new manager they will come in soon, and start building again.
“It stands out in Scottish football because for a long time it was Rangers and Celtic who were the only ones to win titles, and Celtic have recently come forward. Now, suddenly, there is someone else who is there and he hopes that players like Hibs and Aberdeen, the big clubs, will come to the party because if they make the league we really get the league.”
Sutton wondered if Hearts had a good chance of winning the title last season but he knows that Bloom will have a plan for the team to compete at the bottom of the table again.
Tony Bloom will look to help Hearts compete again this season
“This will be a very different side to Hearts,” said Sutton. “They are a really interesting story because of what they achieved last season. Everyone will be thinking, can they challenge again? They lost their best striker in Scotland, Lawrence Shankland, to Rangers. They lost their talented manager, Derek McInnes, to Rangers.
“What are Jamestown Analytics going to do in terms of trying to fill their vacancies? I’m sure they have a plan. I’m sure Tony Bloom has a plan. It will be interesting to see who comes in as the next Hearts coach and what route they take.
“I’m sure Hearts will be there or will be there, but maybe they had their chance last season. This season might be a little bit different. I think it’s really fun to watch.”
