Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers shares Rangers transfer verdict amid ‘strong’ claim
Returning Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Rangers will “want to be strong” next season under manager Michael Beale.
Rodgers is back in the Celtic dugout after his sacking from Leicester City earlier this season, having previously won two Scottish Premiership titles with the Bhoys.
His club have made five signings so far in the summer transfer window, with Beale making eight at Rangers as they look to close the gap on their rivals.
“When I came here the first time the talk was about Rangers being promoted and they’d beaten Celtic well in a semi-final game,” Rodgers told Sky Sports News, as quoted by Sky Sports.
“So they were coming back, Aberdeen were very strong as were some of the teams. Rangers are investing and will want to be strong and the other teams will be investing as well and looking to you to keep closing the gaps.”
Fierce competition
The fierce competition between Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers has been going for some time now, long before the time of Rodgers and Beale.
But the two managers now look set to play a huge role in this historic rivalry, with Beale desperate for his summer signings to help the Gers come out on top next season.
It was all Celtic last time out, albeit things are different at Celtic Park now given how Ange Postecoglou has left the club to join Tottenham in the Premier League.
Rodgers does, however, have a superb history at the Glasgow club, with the Northern Irishman keen to use all of his knowledge of the league – and that gained while at Leicester – to create more successful memories at Celtic.
Getting off to a good start will be key, with the two famous clubs set to go head to head for the first time next season at the beginning of September at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, Kemar Roofe has sent a five-word message after one new signing made his Gers debut against Hoffenheim on Saturday (29 July).