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Sports Hotline

Celtic world class transfer plans show tide has turned as Rangers sign up yesterday's men and flog stars - Hotline

The SPFL is in flip flop mode as our top footballers - those not on international duty anyway - head for the sun.

Don’t think for a minute the Hotline regulars are taking a break though.

Not a chance. It may be the close season on the field but silly season in the transfer world is just about to begin.

Which means the banter and bluster on the airwaves just keeps coming.

Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, got us off and running, saying: “It's astonishing to think that Celtic are now permanently signing world class players like Jota and Carter-Vickers whilst top stars in Europe and further afield are lining up to sign for the Scottish champions. Rangers on the other hand are offering one-year contracts to over the hill yesterday’s men. The tide has now turned, Celtic will get stronger whilst Rangers will flog Kent and Bassey in order to reduce their massive debts.”

But Stewart McInroy emailed: “Celtic fans are deluded. They will blow their transfer budget on players they already have at Parkhead while Rangers will go out and strengthen and the title will return home next season while in Europe Celtic will be out before Christmas as usual.”

Speaking of Europe, attention quickly turned back to last week’s Europa League Final.

Brian McColligan emailed: “Nobody remembers losers and getting beat in Europe three times, or in Rangers’ case twice, equals the same - no trophy. As for the coefficient, it’s done over a five year period and Celtic have accumulated more points over that time than Rangers who, for the record, lost seven games in Europe this season.”

Bill Lockerbie, Northampton, said: “There is indeed a comparison between the Lisbon Lions and this Rangers team - Wednesday was 55 years since the greatest football team ever produced in Scotland became legends never to be equalled or surpassed.”

And Henry Moffat, Stirling, said: “Rangers fans are living in a deluded fantasy. Nobody cares about the Europa League finalists apart from the teams who get there. The world’s biggest club trophy is the only show in town and Rangers’ record in it is laughable compared to Celtics’. It has just got a lot worse by becoming the first club to blow three qualification chances in one season. Well done.”

At least John Bruce got topical with his jibes. He emailed: “You can never write off Jose Mourinho. He loves winning trophies and making history wherever he goes. After Roma beat Feyenoord, he added another trophy to his cv and became the first manager to win the Europa Conference League, the Europa League and the Champions League. But we can't forget Celtic. They made history by being the first club to be knocked out of all three in the one season.”

Jose Mourinho won the inaugural Europa Conference League (Getty Images)

Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, added: “It's absolute torture with no midweek football now. I can appreciate what the Celtic supporters have had to put up with having had no Wednesday and Thursday football since getting embarrassed by Bodo/Glimt on February 24.”

Thankfully there were a couple of calls relating to footballing matters rather than point scoring.

Firstly, the future of veteran Rangers keeper Allan McGregor who is out of contract and yet to decide whether to play on.

Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “If McGregor still enjoys playing he should continue doing what he loves, after all he's still in top form. I see the great Italian Gianluigi Buffon still playing at Parma aged 44 on a contract to 2024! Both are still excellent goalies.”

Finally a word of praise for St Johnstone and their board led by Steve Brown.

Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: “The St Johnstone board should be congratulated for standing by Callum Davidson - not like Dundee sacking James McPake. They were rewarded by winning the play-off and now the fans can look forward to another season in the top flight.”

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