New Celtic transfer mantra emerges as giddy Rangers gloater put in his place on the Hotline

Who needs actual football matches to get fans kicking off when there’s a transfer window sitting wide open? The Scottish season might still be a few days away from officially starting but the Hotline regulars have been in full flight for weeks.

And it was no different over the last 24 hours as Celtic’s lack of additions and Rangers quality of signings took a battering. Donald Dundas, Uddingston, said: “Now that the Euros are almost over, when are all those star players signing for Celtic? The promise that all our targets are still in Germany will turn into ‘Oh they're on extended holidays now’. Top agents do deals online and in these days of technology a deal can be struck in minutes or hours. Or has the key to the biscuit tin gone missing again?”

Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, added: “Every year it's the same. Celtic talk about signing superstars and in the end try to sign unknowns. Another disaster in the Champions League coming up.”

And Chris Lowe, Yoker, said: “I see the Kerrydale experts were out in force yesterday with claims that Rangers are skint, that Hearts and Aberdeen will finish above them, that they have no tangible assets and another having a go at the delay in the upgrade of the disabled facilities in our stadium. Millions in the bank at Parkhead they shout but two lowball offers for players that they had on loan last season, no goalkeeper and still a ground that has to close off the first three rows on European nights as it’s not fit for purpose. The Celtic hierarchy must love having the most gullible fans in Europe.”

But Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “I must admit I didn’t know the transfer window closes mid-July as this is what you would think if you listened to all the obsessive Rangers fans talking about Celtic’s lack of transfers. You would think with the state of their own club they would be more worried about that. Like I said before, bargain basement signings are easy to get but quality takes a bit longer so just keep on watching for them coming.”

Rangers fan Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, took aim at his own club over their attempts to bring Abdallah Sima back from Brighton. He said: “If Rangers are dragging their feet over £6m for Sima it beggars belief. It’s bad business like that which has cost Rangers titles and silverware year on year. Sima has been very vocal over his love of Rangers and wants to return as one of our own. Clement and Bennett need to get there act together and inform Brighton it's a £6m one-time offer and we won’t return should they decline.”

John Scott, Grassmoor, had a message for a Hotline regular, saying: “I wish Rangers fans like Alan Flett would give it a rest about Lawrence Shankland. They've no intention of handing Hearts millions for one of their top players. No they'll do what they usually do. Wait to get him on a pre-contract while sticking in a derisory offer in January which will be rejected. Then they will accuse Hearts of holding back the player from the club he's supported as a boy.”

Finally, John Bruce called for calm over the Ibrox renovation delay which will see Philippe Clement’s side play the first month of the season away from their home. He emailed: “There's some major doom and gloom being pushed on the delayed upgrading work at Ibrox but it's just a blip compared to the club's darkest hour in 2012 and Rangers came back from those depths to win a league title and reach a European final. Rangers have already brought in some exciting young talent, with quality and experience also promised. Soon enough, the building work will be behind us and we'll be watching Philippe Clement's new - hopefully successful - team.”