Rangers splashed out £15 million on ten new signings during the summer of 2024, as they sought to reshape their squad under Philippe Clement.
But despite the hefty outlay, the burning question remains: how many of those new arrivals would truly force their way into Celtic’s starting XI? If you swapped the blue of Rangers for the green and white of Celtic, which players could genuinely improve Brendan Rodgers’ side?
For all the optimism at Ibrox, one player who has failed to match the high standards set by his counterpart across the city is Cyriel Dessers.
The Nigerian forward, despite a promising start to the season, was outclassed by Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi in the first Old Firm derby of the season, where Celtic cruised to a 3-0 win.
The gulf in quality between the two was clear for all to see, and the match served as a reminder of just how vital Kyogo is to Celtic’s success.
Similarly, James Tavernier, Rangers’ captain and right-back, has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly after being repeatedly exposed by the relentless pace and work rate of Celtic’s Daizen Maeda.
Tavernier, who has long been a key player for Rangers, is now facing stiff competition in the comparisons with Celtic’s Alistair Johnston.
Johnston’s rapid rise in the Celtic ranks has seen him close the gap on Tavernier, and there is a growing sense that Johnston might now be the more reliable option.
Vaclav Cerny, Mohammed Diomande, Jefte, and Robin Propper are other new faces at Rangers who could yet emerge as stars in the Scottish Premiership. However, as of now, they still have some way to go before they are considered among the league’s elite.
According to Rangers legend Graeme Souness, only one player from the current Rangers squad would make it into Celtic’s starting XI on a regular basis: goalkeeper Jack Butland.
“The goalkeeper does,” Souness said on the Three Up Front podcast, arguing that Butland’s performances over the last year place him ahead of Celtic’s new signing, Kasper Schmeichel. “I feel he is a really good goalkeeper.”
Butland has been a standout performer for Rangers since his arrival, and his displays in the 2023/24 season earned him the club’s Player of the Year award.
At times, he was so impressive that there was even talk of a potential England recall. His shot-stopping ability and commanding presence between the sticks have made him a key figure in Clement’s team.
However, the 31-year-old has not been immune to criticism. Despite his undeniable quality, a few costly mistakes have begun to creep into his game.
Perhaps the most high-profile error came in the Scottish Cup final in May, where Adam Idah’s stoppage-time winner for Celtic sparked debate about Butland’s positioning.
He also found himself in the spotlight again after being caught flat-footed by Kyogo’s long-range strike in the recent Old Firm defeat.
Butland, though, was quick to defend himself after the Celtic game. Speaking at his post-match press conference, he said:
“Pleased with my performance. Look, you never enjoy conceding goals. You always look back at everything. I looked at my positioning on the second one (Kyogo’s goal). I think I’m in a position which is suitable for where we were at in the game and being in possession of the ball.”
He added: “In giving the ball away, I’m trying to get back to my optimal position where I want to be in that moment and perhaps I didn’t quite get back to where I wanted to get to, ideally.”
Butland’s stellar form last season was also enough to convince Robby McCrorie, a long-time understudy, to leave the club in search of regular first-team football, eventually signing for Kilmarnock. To replace McCrorie, Rangers brought in former Motherwell captain Liam Kelly to serve as Butland’s backup.
While Butland’s quality is undeniable, his occasional lapses and the pressure of being Rangers’ last line of defence in crucial matches mean that he will need to maintain his high standards if he is to continue justifying Souness’ faith in him.
As it stands, he is perhaps the only player in Clement’s squad who could walk into Celtic’s line-up, highlighting the gulf that still exists between the two sides.