Michael Beale can earn ‘x-factor’ Rangers transfer with Champions League progress
Kevin Thomson has insisted that Michael Beale can earn himself an “x-factor” signing with Champions League progression at Rangers.
The Ibrox club begin their Champions League journey on Wednesday (8 August) with the first leg of their qualifier against Swiss club Servette and Thomson believes that qualification to Europe’s premier competition could be crucial in the Light Blues’ pursuit to beat Celtic to the title this season.
Beale has already been busy in the transfer market, signing nine new players and majorly reinforcing his forward line, but opened the season with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Kilmarnock the former Rangers man believes extra reinforcements could be acquired if the Gers reach the top.
Speaking on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast, (7 August, 19:00) Thomson said: “When you are Rangers and chasing Celtic, or vice-versa, when they are selling players for big money or recruiting players, winning leagues, playing in the Champions League, the gulf becomes bigger.
“I would like to think when you look at Rangers’ recruitment, getting to the top table is going to be massively important for probably the x-factor recruitment.
“They might have an eye on a special talent or a player a wee bit more outwith the budget. That (Champions League qualification) can be the difference. Imperative that they make sure they try to get to the top table so these next couple games are huge in defining what the season looks like moving forward.”
Pressure is on
We may be only one game into the new season but the pressure is well and truly on at Ibrox, with a feeling that the next few results alone could decide the outcome of the entirety of Rangers season, for good or for bad.
Now that is unlikely, the Scottish Premiership looks stronger this year, with it much less likely that Celtic will only lose three matches again and it also appears that the Light Blues have done most of their recruitment before even knowing which European competition they’ll feature in.
But the window is open for another three weeks and there is still plenty of opportunity for Rangers to add that extra bit of x-factor to their ranks, should their budget be extended by Champions League qualification or further player sales this summer.
The gap between the two Old Firm clubs has been closed so drastically by the impressive transfer business completed on the blue side of Glasgow that it would be incredibly frustrating to see it reopen slightly should Beale’s side miss out on Europe’s top table.
Hopefully, the playing field will be level once again and Rangers will join Celtic in the Champions League group stages.
In other Rangers news, an exit is set to be confirmed at Ibrox today as a forward pens his goodbye