Celtic secured a clear lead of seven points over their rival team Rangers in the last season, however, a substantial transformation was observed this summer. The team witnessed the departure of their manager, Ange Postecoglou, who helped them secure a treble, and the return of their previous manager, Brendan Rodgers.
The team’s on-field dynamics are also expected to see considerable changes, especially with the exit of their leading winger, Jota, who is heading to Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, Celtic should anticipate a sizable financial influx from these departures and can additionally rely on their guaranteed income from the Champions League, enabling substantial reinvestment possibilities.
Rangers too are bracing for a significant squad transformation, with the departure of renowned players like Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Alan McGregor, post their contract completion. Although new players like Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, and Sam Lammers have been added to the Ibrox roster, Rangers’ inability to secure a fee from their departing players poses a disadvantage in closing the gap with Celtic.
While Celtic might require some time to adjust to Rodgers’ return, their financial supremacy over the other teams could play a critical role, particularly in a tightly contested race against the Gers at the year-end. Despite two losses in their final five matches in the 2022-23 season, Celtic’s comfortable title triumph signifies their potential to replicate the success with appropriate reinvestment.
Even though Michael Beale will have a full summer to train his Gers team after taking charge in November, it seems challenging for the Light Blues to pose a serious threat to their Old Firm rivals given their current squad instability.
Aberdeen, despite a sluggish start, secured the third position last season, and with the addition of Liverpool duo Rhys Williams and Leighton Clarkson, it’s plausible they will retain their top rank among the rest.
Relegation prediction for the Scottish Premiership is Ross County. The Staggies narrowly escaped relegation last season, but the odds may not favor them this time. The team has suffered the loss of defender Alex Iacovitti and midfielder David Cancola, with Ross being one of the least-scoring teams in the last season. Eamonn Brophy’s permanent signing may offset this, but overall, County’s team seems lacking, and it might be tough for Malky Mackay to pull off another survival miracle.
