Graeme Young answers your calls as the latest move from the champions is causing alarm across the Clyde.
11:17, 22 Jul 2025Updated 12:34, 22 Jul 2025
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Rangers’ chances of beating Panathinaikos and reaching the Champions League | Hotline Live
You only know if you’ve made a right call over a signing until they don their new club’s colours and strut their stuff on the pitch.
But if Celtic were looking for reassurances over a long-term target then it came in the form of a Rangers fanatic on the other side of the pond who obsesses over transfer and has more tips than a horse racing expert on the week of Cheltenham.
And this familiar Stateside voice returned to the phone-in where big opinions are welcomed. He previously pleaded with Rangers to make high-rising Wilfried Nancy their new boss but he returns with bad news for his pals in Light Blue.
Peter Lawwell, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson(Image: Getty Images)
Tom Starr, Cleveland, Ohio, said: “I spend my time glued to watching players I think would be good fits for my Rangers and Michel Ange-Balikwisha came on my radar when Celtic were linked in the last two windows. I made a series of notes on him and the name I kept scribbling down was Scott Sinclair.
“Annoyingly this looks like another sharp bit of business by them and it’s causing me double the worry because this guy will be cutting in and Kieran Tierney will be bombing past Tav. Rangers need some proper signings and quick. I have a list if Kevin Thelwell would like a peek.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, is desperate for a deal to be struck. He said: “I don’t understand why Celtic are still haggling over a fee for Michel Ange Balkwisha after spending serious money on Idah and Engels last season. Why are we holding back this season?
“A game changer is needed up front to progress in Europe. Balikwisha ticks all the boxes and I’ll be hugely disappointed if Celtic don’t get this deal over the line.”
And Celtic’s transfer business even had another Rangers fan wondering if those who follow the Premiership champions will ever be happy?
Kenny Cosh, Old Kilpatrick, said: “Celtic fans moan when they spend big and complain when they find bargains, they slag Rangers when they look in England for bargains and hit out when we try something different. There is no pleasing a fanbase who claim they aren’t bored of winning. Something is making them grumpy but only 10 months until the biggest street party in history when Russell leads the biggest team in Scotland back to their rightful summit.
Regulars are sick and tired of the snash being directed the way of Celtic from a team he reckons have little to shout about.
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “How bad it must be for Hotline callers of a light blue persuasion? All they go on about is Celtic’s record in Europe, their team held the record for worst team in Europe. And are miles behind their biggest rivals.”
James Tavernier played with Russell Martin at Rangers
Peter Lyons, Blantyre, added: “Just to remind Mr Flett and Gowers that their club are MINNOWS in Europe as they continually play in the second division of Europe. Can I remind him how his team played in the big bhoys league?. Yup, worst team ever in the Champions League.”
Sean McGarvey said: “Are Rangers blowhards like Allan Flett and Donald Dundas aware of the analogy of crabs in a bucket? The two of them couldn’t spell Champions League yet try to lump the world’s most successful club, their country’s champions into the same boat as them.
“Crabs in a bucket try to drag the successful crab that’s escaped down to the rest of the crabs level. Ring any bells?”
Hearts are the shortest price they’ve been in years to win the title at 16/1 and belief is palpable down Gorgie Way that something special is brewing.
Ellis Wilson, Morningside, said: “I genuinely think we are going to split the gruesome twosome from Glasgow this season. Claudio Braga is a proper talent and you can tell Derek McInnes is itching to prove everyone wrong. I think we’ll start fast and if Tony Bloom can conjure up some more transfer magic in January then I see no reason why the Jambos won’t be in the mix until the very end.”