Friday 23 June 2017 10:26, UK
Rangers and Aberdeen will only be able to challenge Celtic with the right summer transfers, say Kris Boyd and Steven Pressley.
Brendan Rodgers' Celtic completed the treble last season and remained unbeaten throughout the entire Scottish Premiership campaign - finishing 30 points clear of their nearest challengers, Aberdeen.
Pedro Caixinha has already brought in a host of new faces at Rangers though as they look to close the gap on their Old Firm rivals, and Pressley - who played for both of the Glasgow giants - believes Rangers' hopes rest on the right investment coupled with Celtic's Champions League ambition.
"They have to hope that Celtic have a good European campaign, which could become a slight distraction to them," Pressley told Sky Sports News HQ.
"The second thing will be dependent on the recruitment of players. Rangers have already signed eight new players."
Former Rangers striker Boyd added: "He's [Caixinha] definitely been backed, that's for sure.
"It will be interesting to see with the Europa League campaign starting soon too, I know they've been playing closed-door games, it's that bedding in period.
"A few South American and Portuguese players coming in, it can sometimes take a bit of time to settle in. The Rangers fans will need them to start straight away though, because they won't want the same season as last year."
Derek McInnes' decision to snub the opportunity to become Sunderland manager has also boosted Aberdeen's chances of mounting a title challenge, according to Pressley.
"Aberdeen are another side in a bit of a transition," he said. "They'll be delighted that Derek McInnes has stayed, but a lot of their season will be again dependent on them replacing some of the excellent players that they lost."
Sir Alex Ferguson was the last Aberdeen boss to claim the league title, and Boyd believes the club need to provide for McInnes to give him the opportunity of achieving similar success.
Boyd added: "If ever there was a time to back a manager, it's at Aberdeen. It's time for a new stadium, training ground, for Derek to attract players coming in."
