Chris Sutton reacts to Rangers transfer news and title race with Celtic this season
Chris Sutton believes that Celtic are weaker this season than 12 months ago and has also been impressed by some of the transfers made by Rangers.
The former Hoops hero believes that Kieran Dowell will be a good signing for Michael Beale’s side and slams Alfredo Morelos for being a disgrace last season.
Gers have brought in players like Cyriel Dessers, Danilo and Sam Lammers who can all fill in for the Colombian while Sutton admits Ryan Kent will be a big miss.
He told the Scottish Sun on Wednesday (2 August), “Can they [Celtic] replace Jota? That’s the aim. Do they have a like-for-like replacement for him? I don’t think they do.
“So, in that respect, could you argue that they are weaker? Well, maybe in that particular position.
“But there’s still time for him to bring other players in.
“I know Kieran Dowell pretty well from the last three years at Norwich.
“He’s a really clever footballer, a good technician.
“The big one for Rangers is the striking position – because I thought Morelos last season was a disgrace.
“I think Rangers will miss Ryan Kent.
“I think an important player for Rangers is Connor Goldson.”
After his Twitter spats with Todd Cantwell, Sutton was asked if he thinks the former Norwich ace can live up to his expectations at Ibrox, he said: “I think he can. He’s a talented boy.”
Running scared
Sutton has seen Rangers act like a serious club this summer replacing two of their best players pretty well.
When it comes to Celtic, a replacement for Jota has not been brought through the door and it remains to be seen if they do manage to do that.
The Hoops may be genuinely afraid at how efficiently things have worked behind the scenes for Rangers this summer and hopefully there’s more activity left.
Jose Cifuentes is the next signing but there are still talks over a new centre-back walking through the door at the club.
It remains to be seen who they end up signing as there have been links to Nottingham Forest’s Jonathan Panzo for the longest time.
If they can generate a decent amount of funds from the sales of Glen Kamara and Fashion Sakala, they’re certainly going to be in a much better place.
In other Rangers news, the club are now battling an English side for the services of an Arsenal player set to leave this summer.