Celtic and Rangers Prepare for Summer Changes in Squad
Celtic and Rangers are braced for a summer of change on and off the pitch, with transfer lines crackling across Europe and a familiar figure poised to remain at the heart of it all in Glasgow’s East End.
Celtic: O’Neill stays, squad shifts
Martin O'Neill has been seen at Glasgow Airport, the 74-year-old expected to continue as Celtic manager next season after steering the club to a domestic double in the face of a lengthy injury list. Jackie McNamara, a man who knows the demands of Parkhead as well as anyone, has hailed that achievement and warned supporters to prepare for serious interest in one of their key performers, Canada right-back Alistair Johnston, now 27.
While Celtic look to keep their core intact, the recruitment machine is already turning. The club have made contact with Brondby over the availability of Benjamin Tahirovic, the 23-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder. It is an early signal that O’Neill wants more depth and dynamism in the centre of the pitch as he plots another title defence and a tilt at Europe.
Not every call is incoming. Arne Engels, 22, is drawing admiring glances from England, with Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland all stepping up their interest in the midfielder. For a club used to selling well and reinvesting smartly, that kind of attention is both a compliment and a complication. Keep him and build. Cash in and reshape. The decision will say plenty about Celtic’s strategic appetite under O’Neill’s continued watch.
One departure looks far more advanced. Stephen Welsh is closing in on a move to Swansea City after running down his Celtic contract following a loan spell at Motherwell. The 26-year-old centre-back has agreed a two-year deal, with the Championship side holding an option for a further year. For Welsh, it is a chance to anchor a defence in one of Europe’s most demanding second tiers. For Celtic, it is another homegrown player moving on as the squad evolves again.
Rangers: Replacing a captain, resisting bids
Across the city, Rangers are staring at one of the most delicate tasks in modern squad-building: replacing a talismanic right-back. James Tavernier has set the standard in that position for years, and Rangers have identified United States international Bryan Reynolds as a serious option to take over the role.
Westerlo are open to a sale, with Reynolds’ contract running down next year and the Belgian club keen to secure a fee while they still can. Rangers have shown concrete interest in the 24-year-old, who missed out on the USA’s World Cup squad but remains a player with pace, athleticism and resale value. He is one of several names on the list, but his profile fits the club’s current recruitment model almost perfectly.
The rebuild will not be funded by a fire sale. Jack Butland, whose form has been a rare constant in a turbulent period, is attracting attention from Premier League clubs looking for a back-up goalkeeper. Rangers, though, have no plans to sell the 33-year-old. Stability between the posts is non-negotiable for a side already juggling too many moving parts.
Midfield is another battleground. Dan Neil is weighing his options as he exits Sunderland, with Hull City and Middlesbrough both interested in the 24-year-old. Rangers have already held discussions with the midfielder, who offers energy and control in the middle of the park. Whether he chooses Ibrox or stays in the Championship will hinge on ambition, minutes and the promise of European nights.
Beyond Glasgow: Leicester turn to a familiar face
The ripples from Scotland stretch south. Leicester City, reeling from relegation to League One, are in talks with Russell Martin about taking over at the King Power. The former Southampton and Rangers head coach has built a reputation for possession-heavy, principled football. Leicester need identity as much as results. Martin offers both, along with an understanding of the pressure that comes with managing big clubs with restless fanbases.
As Celtic look to arm O’Neill for another title push and Rangers attempt to retool without losing their backbone, one question hangs over the summer: which of Glasgow’s giants will handle the churn with more conviction—and who will be left playing catch-up when the season starts to bite?
