Chris Sutton believes Celtic may need to spend more than £50m overhauling their squad this summer if they are to retain their Premier League title and compete in the Champions League.
Martin O’Neill led Celtic to their fifth successive title on the final day of the season in May as a split campaign on and off the pitch ultimately yielded a double, with victory over Dunfermline also securing Scottish Cup success.
But where Celtic have enjoyed relative dominance in recent years, they were minutes away from being beaten to the title by Hearts, with managerial turnover and off-field supporter protests over recruitment disrupting last season.
Sutton believes these recruitment issues remain an issue and believes departures of key players could push Celtic into a bigger spending spree in the summer window as they look to address key areas of the squad.
“Martin did wonders last season. I didn’t see Celtic winning the title from the position he was put in on a couple of occasions,” he told Sky Sports News. “I mean, the run towards the end of the season was extraordinary, but I still think you can’t get away from the fact that there has to be a lot of change at Celtic in terms of recruitment.
“They’ve got the Champions League qualifier, which is really important, and as exciting as it was for Celtic fans to end up getting over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic have struggled at times during the season. So Martin will, I’m sure, look to bring players in.
“It will be interesting to see who goes out from Celtic. It looks like Reo Hatate will go, possibly Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels, but they are big players for the team. So who are Celtic going to replace those type of players with? I think Celtic may have to spend up to or more than £50m because the squad really needs a rebuild.”
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Kris Boyd weighs in on Celtic’s Scottish Premier League clash and highlights the importance of the first Old Firm game.
Celtic kick off their upcoming Premiership campaign with the visit of Dundee on August 3, live on Sky Sportsand will host Rangers in the first Old Firm clash of the season on September 20. Before then, however, they must negotiate a Champions League play-off draw on 18/19. August.
Celtic failed to reach the Champions League group stage last season, losing in the play-offs on penalties to Kairat Almaty, and Sutton believes serious work will be needed over the summer to ensure the club return to Europe’s top table.
“The squad looked tired at times last season,” he said. “The question is, is the squad from last season good enough to win the Scottish Premiership this season, good enough to challenge in Europe? I think it would be a struggle again this season if Celtic don’t bring players in. Everyone can see what’s going to happen.
Celtic just got Hearts to the title last season
“I think Martin O’Neill will know that. So, recruitment is paramount. And Champions League football again, that Champions League qualifier is absolutely massive for Celtic. It can change the atmosphere in and around the club. You get through it to the Champions League and the supporters will be delighted. You don’t get through and then the old misery starts again.”
Boyd: Rangers need good start | Sutton: Röhl did not have the stomach for Rangers
Rangers kick off their Premier League 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 need to start well after poor early-season form helped derail their title bid last time out.
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Kris Boyd gives his thoughts on Rangers’ first six games of the Scottish Premier League season and stresses the importance of Derek McInnes getting off to a good start.
“Going away to Dundee United is a good opening game, then Hibs at home and St Mirren after that, two home games, with a chance to build some momentum before he travels to Aberdeen,” Boyd said.
“For Rangers it’s an opportunity to get points on the board. Rangers need to start the season well. Of course that didn’t happen last season and they played catch up.
“They need to get off to a good start and see where it takes them because when you go behind in this league it can be difficult to come back and we saw the amount of changes that happened at Ibrox last season because of that bad start, so I think for Rangers and Derek McInnes, they will have a really good start.”
Lawrence Shankland left Hearts to join Rangers this summer
McInnes has replaced Danny Röhl at Ibrox after the German took over at RB Salzburg and Sutton believes Rangers will be better for the change of manager.
“Danny Röhl didn’t have the stomach for it,” Sutton said. “He went away, or you know, he’s gone to Salzburg. But Dereks steps in.
“Last season at Hearts they pushed Celtic all the way. I thought he did brilliantly. He’s proven himself in management and I actually think it’s a really smart appointment from Rangers.
Danny Rohl was in charge of Rangers for less than eight months
“When it came down to it 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 anybody that he ended up leaving. So I think Rangers are better off without him. And you know, Derek McInnes is a good deal.”
Can Hearts compete again?
Hearts are yet to announce a replacement for McInnes and will have their own rebuild to contend with following the departure of captain Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox.
Despite that, Boyd believes Hearts are capable of challenging for the title again and insists Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics will be crucial if that is to happen.
Derek McInnes and Lawrence Shankland have left Hearts to join Rangers
“Hearts have lost their manager and their captain and talisman in Lawrence Shankland, but I think they will only get stronger,” Boyd said. “Yes, last season they ran Celtic close, but I think with Jamestown Analytics and a new manager coming in shortly, they will start to build again.
“It’s brilliant for Scottish football because for a long time it’s been Rangers and Celtic who’ve been the only ones to win titles with Celtic dominating recently. Now suddenly there’s someone else in the mix and you just hope the likes of Hibs and Aberdeen, the bigger clubs, can come to the party too, because if they do then we’re in for a really exciting time.”
Sutton has questioned whether Hearts’ best chance of title success was last season, but knows Bloom will have a plan to get the team competing at the top end of the table again.
Tony Bloom will help Hearts compete again this season
“This will be a very different Hearts side,” said Sutton. “They’re a really fascinating story because of what they achieved last season. Everyone will be thinking, well, can they challenge again? They’ve lost the best striker in Scotland, in Lawrence Shankland, to Rangers. They’ve lost their talented manager, Derek McInnes, to Rangers.
“What will Jamestown Analytics do in terms of trying to replace them? 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 manager and what route they go down.
“I’m sure Hearts will be there or thereabouts, but maybe it’s like they had their chance last season. This season might be a bit different. I think they’re really interesting to watch.”