George Overhill

Tue 23 May 2023 18:10, UK

Michael Beale needs at least £20million to spend on his Rangers squad in order to get near Celtic because he needs two or three players worth up to £5million says Tam McManus.

It is believed that the Ibrox boss has begun his major summer rebuild with a pair of free transfers in the form of Kieran Dowell from Norwich and Chelsea loanee Dujon Sterling, but with an eight-point gap to the rival champions the pundit doesn’t think that sort of business will be even close to enough.

Five senior first-team players were announced as leaving by the club on Tuesday (23 May), and as the manager looks to replace them cash is expected to be the key factor.

Speaking on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show (22 May, 1m) McManus said: “It’s all going to boil down to money. If Rangers have got the money to go into the market and sign quality players then it makes Michael Beale’s job easier.

“If he’s scrapping about looking for frees in the Championship, Swanseas, QPRs, teams like that. I don’t think those players are going to frighten Celtic.

“But if he’s got a big transfer pot, and I’m talking £10million, £15million, £20million, to go and spend on these players then it makes his job easier, he’s looking at a higher level of player to come straight into the team.”

He went on (3m 30s): “I think Rangers need 10 or 12 players. They’ve got to restructure their full front line in terms of wide men and strikers, maybe they 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. [He needs] at least £20million, he needs massive investment because I look at that Celtic squad and I don’t see Rangers getting close with free transfers or guys at £1million or £2million, unless your picking up real gems.

“You need to go and sign guys at £4million or £5million, two or three of them, and then the rest made up of £1million or £2million, because if you’re in that market and buying guys from Norwich and Swansea I don’t think that’s going to scare Celtic because I think Celtic will spend £15million or £20million.”

Pressure

The more money available to Beale this summer the higher he can aim, but it isn’t entirely as simple as spending more to get the results required next season.

It likely will require a couple of headline arrivals to at least replace the outgoing haul of Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander, Allan McGregor and Scott Arfield.

But even if he gets a budget that will stretch to a few big-money signings he is going to have to be smart with what he does elsewhere because the injury issues at Ibrox of late have proven the first XI won’t last a full campaign.

Todd Cantwell arrived from Norwich for a minimal fee in January because he had six months left on his contract, and his recent form suggests he would be worth significantly more now, so if Beale can identify and secure a handful more players on the same level he will be half-way there.

Nico Raskin has also been a solid addition, and while more is required from both going forward it is a positive sign with regards to the manager’s ability to spot the right targets.

It’s not out of the question but it would be a surprise if the Rangers board suddenly freed up more than £20million so it won’t be easy to bridge the gap to Celtic, but decent fees were spent on the likes of Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo last summer without the requisite impact so price isn’t everything.

In other Rangers news, the club are set to go head to head with their Old Firm rivals to land a goal-machine young forward.