BRIAN LAUDRUP has backed his former side Rangers to have a successful transfer window to ultimately hit back at Celtic in the Premiership title race next season.
The Light Blues face a busy summer with new faces needed and also increased speculation surrounding key assets such as Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Calvin Bassey.
Laudrup believes not having Champions League group stage football guaranteed will also play a part, with Celtic marching into the groups after winning the title.
Rangers will have to navigate their way through the qualifiers, and Laudrup reckons that could impact the standard of player wanting to play at Ibrox.
Despite this, Laudrup has looked back on last summer and the stunning turnaround in personnel that Ange Postecoglou dealt with when he arrived at Celtic.
He told the Daily Mail: “The remainder of this window will obviously play a crucial role in determining which club ends up as champions next time round.
“One thing is already apparent. Rangers face a far more complicated window than their rivals.
“That doesn't have to be a barrier to eventual success, though. Just think back to the chaos we saw at Parkhead last summer.
"If you work smart, anything can be achieved.
“This time, Celtic undoubtedly start with certain advantages. Winning last season's Premiership means they have the stability of guaranteed Champions League income to financially support their plans.
“Also, the overhaul already undertaken has created a strong contract profile within their squad.
“They've still got some significant jobs to do - most pressingly in trying to persuade Jota to follow Cameron Carter-Vickers in returning - but Ange Postecoglou can look ahead with more certainty than Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
“At Ibrox, the budget could alter late on in the window if Van Bronckhorst is able to negotiate two rounds of Champions League qualifiers.
“Right now, however, there will have to be decisions about how far they can push financially.
“Retaining Connor Goldson was a massive boost and unquestionably solved one problem, but the fact Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo and Ryan Kent are entering the final 12 months of their deals is another complicating factor.
“If talks over extensions are fruitless, any bids received will have to be carefully weighed up against the on-field value of keeping them.
“All these variables make life a little tougher but, as I said, it's nothing compared to the situation around Celtic 12 months ago.
“There was utter chaos at Parkhead. A new manager came in quite late, having to reshuffle, get new players and sell others who were heading out.
“Despite all that, Postecoglou ended up doing extremely well.”
