Rangers have new Champions League priority after Tawanda Maswanhise admission
Rangers have Celtic to worry about in the William Hill Premiership ahead of facing Hearts in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday.
The Jam Tarts will travel to Ibrox on 15 February, and the Gers will be looking to close the gap at the top of the table.
Celtic kick off their next game against Kilmarnock a few hours earlier than their Old Firm rivals, and Martin O’Neill’s team have the opportunity to displace the Light Blues from second position.
Not only is Danny Rohl fighting to win the league title, but he must also ensure that his side don’t fall out of the Champions League qualifying spots for next season.
Rangers must keep an eye on Celtic to have Tawanda Maswanhise transfer hope
Rangers and Celtic have been linked with a move for Tawanda Maswanhise, and the end of the season could potentially determine who will sign the in-form Motherwell striker.
The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals in 22 William Hill Premiership appearances this season, and it isn’t surprising to see interest from Ibrox in the centre-forward.
However, if the Light Blues finish outside the top two in the league and fail to qualify for the Champions League, they may be unable to compete for the Zimbabwe international’s signature.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun on 12 February, Maswanhise said, “For me, myself and my career, I do want to play Champions League football.”
As things stand, Celtic have played one less game than Hearts or their Old Firm rivals, and will be confident of at least finishing second after O’Neill has turned the tide at Parkhead.
If the Govan side can’t manage a victory against Hearts, they might be in danger of dropping down to third, which will surely affect their plans for the upcoming transfer window regarding Maswanhise.
- Read More: Danny Rohl surely set to backtrack on winter transfer target after what happened vs Motherwell
How Champions League qualification works in Scotland for 2026-27 season
As things stand, Hearts will enter the Champions League play-off to have a chance at qualifying for the league phase of the competition for the 2026-27 season.
The team second in the William Hill Premiership, currently Rangers, will be placed in the second qualifying round to have a chance of progressing further.
With Scotland’s European coefficient deteriorating, teams that finish third and fourth enter the second qualifying round of the Conference League.
As for the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup winner, a place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League awaits them, unless they also finish in the top two in the league table, in which case, the third-placed team enter the Europa League, with the team finishing fifth getting a chance in the Conference League.
For more on Maswanhise, visit Football Insider for some exclusive transfer stories.