Brutally honest Brian Laudrup admits Celtic go into the Scottish Premiership season as title favourites - but warned everyone was tipping dethroned Rangers for success this time last summer.
Ange Postecoglou 's champions begin their league campaign against Aberdeen on Sunday having not suffered defeat in a league game since last September, with a return to the Champions League group stage for the first time in five seasons just around the corner. The Australian has built on what he has, retaining loanees Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Daizen Maeda on permanent deals while adding Benjamin Siegrist, Alexandro Bernabei, Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jenz to his squad.
Across the city, Gio van Bronckhorst has been reshaping last season's Europa League finalists and Scottish Cup winners following the departure of key men Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey. Ibrox fans will be hoping that the win at Hampden over Hearts in the final game of last season is just the start of the Dutchman's trophy haul as boss with seven new recruits arriving at Ibrox in this window.
Former Ibrox hero Laudrup reckons there has been some savvy spending from sporting director Ross Wilson this summer that could see them regain the title. In contract, he reckons the overall consistency at Parkhead could be vital when it comes to deciding the title.
While handing Celtic the tag of title favourites, he offered a pointed reminder that Steven Gerrard's Rangers were heavy favourites to lift the trophy at the end of the campaign last term. Writing for The Daily Mail, Laudrup said: "I like the look of how Rangers have spent so far.
"There's a tremendous mix within the seven signings made a bit of everything, really. I feel it's going to be an incredibly tight contest with Celtic this season.
"They are the settled side and the reigning champions. But if Giovanni van Bronckhorst can get his new additions to gel as quickly as possible, I think Rangers now have a greater overall depth of quality than they did last season even without Aribo and Bassey.
"That might just be enough to edge things in their favour over the course of a truly fascinating campaign. It's easy to see Rangers were well prepared for this summer's events. They might not have expected to sell Bassey for so much, but they knew clubs would come for him.
"The same was always going to be true of Aribo if a contract extension wasn't put in place. Now it's Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos entering the final 12 months of their deals. While the noises seem very positive on Morelos staying, sporting director Ross Wilson will be ready with options for replacements if something happens with either of them before August 31.
"We saw the points dropped in the Premiership last season while the Europa League campaign continued. Rangers threw them away at times and eventually lost the title.
"It was vital to create a deeper layer of talent, with hungry players feeling they have a point to prove. They seem to have that now. And I also see the potential for more goals, too
"Of course, while Van Bronckhorst must negotiate Champions League qualifiers, Ange Postecoglou has the luxury of knowing Celtic are already in the group stage. The Parkhead manager has gone for continuity this summer and I agree spending big on Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota made good sense.
"If we look at the title contest before a ball is kicked, we have to be honest and say Celtic are the team to beat. They're the champions. They have the track record of consistency. They are a known quantity in many ways.
"But we said something similar about Rangers last season. And look how that turned out. If Van Bronckhorst's newcomers can make a positive start, they have every chance of winning a Premiership race that might just require a photo-finish."
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