Celtic and Rangers: Summer Rebuilds Amidst Player Movements

Celtic and Rangers are locked in a familiar summer dance, but the choreography feels different this time. Key figures are being courted, stalwarts are edging towards the exit, and both Glasgow giants are staring at a rebuild that could define their next few seasons.

Celtic: Building While Others Circle

Celtic have moved early. Contact has been made with Brondby over 23-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic, a signal that the champions are intent on refreshing the spine of their side rather than simply patching around the edges.

At the same time, others are eyeing up what Celtic already have. Arne Engels, just 22, is drawing growing interest from Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland. That kind of trio tells its own story: Premier League money, Championship ambition and the lure of regular football all converging on one of Celtic’s more intriguing midfield assets.

The attention doesn’t stop there. Former captain Jackie McNamara has warned his old club to brace themselves for offers for Alistair Johnston. The Canada right-back, 27, has been one of Celtic’s most reliable performers, and in a market starved of dependable full-backs, that profile rarely stays under the radar for long.

McNamara has also been quick to underline the job done by Martin O'Neill, praising the veteran manager for steering Celtic to a domestic double last season despite a punishing run of injuries. That context matters, because O'Neill, 74, has been spotted at Glasgow Airport and is expected to continue in the Celtic dugout next season. Stability in the technical area, turbulence in the squad: it’s a familiar Celtic summer cocktail.

One player already edging towards the departure lounge is Stephen Welsh. Out of contract after his loan spell with Motherwell, the centre-back is closing in on a move to Swansea City. The 26-year-old has agreed a two-year deal, with the Championship club holding an option for a further year. For Welsh, it’s a chance to anchor a defence in one of the most unforgiving leagues in Europe. For Celtic, it’s another homegrown defender leaving at a time when depth at the back is rarely a luxury.

Rangers: Replacing a Captain, Protecting a No.1

Across the city, Rangers are confronting a question they’ve been able to avoid for years: what does life after James Tavernier look like?

The Ibrox club have shown concrete interest in right-back Bryan Reynolds, with Westerlo open to a sale as his contract runs down. The 24-year-old United States international, who missed out on their World Cup squad, is one of several names on Rangers’ shortlist as they prepare for the possibility of their captain moving on. Replacing Tavernier is not just a tactical issue; it’s a cultural one. Goals, assists, leadership. Reynolds, or anyone else, will be stepping into one of the biggest roles in Scottish football.

Midfield could also be reshaped. Hull City are weighing up a move for Dan Neil, with Championship rivals Middlesbrough also keen. The 24-year-old, leaving Sunderland, has already held discussions with Rangers. Those talks underline how aggressively the club is probing the English market for players who can handle both the physicality of the domestic game and the demands of European nights.

At least one cornerstone looks set to stay. Jack Butland is attracting interest from Premier League clubs as a back-up goalkeeper, but Rangers have no plans to sell the 33-year-old. In a squad that may see significant turnover, holding on to a settled, high-performing No.1 feels non-negotiable.

Elsewhere: Leicester Turn to a Familiar Face

Beyond Glasgow, another fallen giant is plotting its way back. Leicester City are in talks with former Southampton and Rangers head coach Russell Martin about taking over after their relegation to League One. Martin’s possession-heavy style split opinion at his previous clubs, but Leicester’s hierarchy see a coach capable of imposing an identity on a squad that has been drifting.

From Celtic’s hunt for Tahirovic to Rangers’ pursuit of Reynolds and Neil, and Leicester’s move for Martin, the pattern is clear. This isn’t a window of minor tweaks. It’s one where big decisions on managers, captains and core midfielders will either reinforce existing power structures—or crack them wide open.