Rangers will be expected to invest heavily in the transfer market this summer in order to compete with Celtic once again.
While in individual battles the Gers have shown their might against the old enemy, over the course of a marathon season, the investment from the green side of Glasgow shines through.
With takeover talks continuing for the new 49ers-backed US consortium to take over at Ibrox, supporters are anticipating what will hopefully be a useful summer of positive progress for their side.
Rangers linked with shock move for 200-app Celtic man
In the past week or two, links have emerged which could restore one of the rarest transfer routes in football – across the Old Firm divide.
Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has played over 200 times for the first team in green and white, including 36 games so far this season, having been released by the Ibrox academy as a youngster.
Kris Boyd recently urged Rangers to look into bringing Taylor back to Govan, with his contract at Celtic expiring at the end of the season.
Michael Stewart has echoed Boyd’s thoughts, and now Ally McCoist has had his say on the 27-year-old’s future.
McCoist, speaking to Record Sport as published by the Daily Record (9 April), believes moving across the Old Firm, be it directly or indirectly, is not the “big deal” it used to be – citing memories of “wee” Mo Johnston who famously represented both clubs.
The Ibrox legend also backed Taylor to be able to get in the starting side, with current left-back options including Jefte, and the heavily linked-away Ridvan Yilmaz.
“He absolutely could get in the team and play, I don’t have any doubt about that,” McCoist claimed.
“He’s a good player. In this day and age, it’s probably not as big a deal as it was years and years ago. But I definitely think he could play in the team.
“I was around when wee Mo did it, so after wee Mo, anything is possible! It wouldn’t be as big a deal as wee Mo, there’s nothing that would be as big a deal as wee Mo. You talk about Elvis, Kenny Miller, Alfie Conn… so I don’t think it’s such a big deal as years gone by.”
Greg Taylor back to Ibrox?
Taylor left Rangers at the age of 16, after being considered “too small and slight” to succeed in the senior side at Ibrox.
The full-back moved onto Kilmarnock where he became a professional, and joined Celtic six years ago – since surpassing 200 games and winning 10 trophies – a number which frustratingly for the Gers will soon rise. He has also notched up 14 full caps for Scotland.
However, the nod from the likes of McCoist and Boyd could carry serious weight – these are individuals who understand the deepest tentacles of the history of the Old Firm, and how supporters on both sides might react to the next move involving both clubs.
There are but a handful of players who have represented both halves of Glasgow, including notably Johnston, as well as Alfie Conn and Kenny Miller – the latter having signed at Ibrox on three separate occasions, supporting Rangers as a youngster and still to this day.
A direct move across the divide is gold dust. On a free transfer as well, one would consider Taylor not to be the most popular figure among Celtic fans if he committed to the move. But it’s early days yet.
