By George Overhill

6th May, 2023 | 9:10am

Rangers transfer news: Michael Beale needs £20million budget to sign 12 for Celtic battle amid 'big investment' verdict - pundit

Michael Beale won’t have enough to “topple” Celtic if his Rangers transfer budget is less than £10million, with up to 12 players needed, says Tam McManus.

The pundit believes the Gers boss will need double that to perform the kind of surgery to his squad that is required to redress the balance at the top of the SPFL.

Beale has already made clear that there will be significant change to the playing staff this summer, after losing his third-straight Old Firm derby on 30 April, and McManus believes the entire strike force is going to need to be restocked which will immediately take up a big chunk of cash.

Speaking on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show, as per a clip posted to Twitter, the pundit said: “I think Rangers need 10 players, 12 players. I think they’ve got to restructure their full front line in terms of wide men and strikers, they probably need four or five players in that area.

“Rangers need big investment. If Michael Beale’s got under £10million to spend then I don’t think that’s enough to topple Celtic. I don’t think that’s enough to get closer to Celtic.”

The quote in the post attributed to him said: “Rangers will need £20 million to catch Celtic – under £10 million won’t be enough”.

Shopping spree

The squad is likely to look very different when the new campaign kicks off, and McManus is probably not far off the total number of additions that will be on the cards.

But while Beale and company may have grand plans heading into the window it doesn’t always pan out that way in reality, as there were suggestions that he would add at least double the two he brought in during the winter.

Malik Tillman is one decision that needs making, and if his £5million permanent option makes up half of the entire budget then it is likely that he is out of the Light Blues’ price range.

If it is closer to a quarter then the American may be set for a return to Glasgow, despite having already headed back to Germany after his hamstring injury ended the season early.

A certain number of free transfers are sure to be mixed in, with Kieran Dowell thought to be headed to Ibrox at the expiry of his Norwich contract, and Beale must be fairly confident of getting deals over the line to promise such a major rebuild after the Scottish Cup defeat.

On the other hand, the Gers boss has caused trouble for himself before with big talk that wasn’t backed up, so if he was speaking more out of hope than expectation it could turn out to be an uncomfortable summer around the club.

In other Rangers news, one player has been tipped to increase the budget with an Ibrox exit as he retains “plenty of market value”.