Celtic legend Tom Boyd believes it is possible that Rangers’ mass summer recruitment drive can prove an instant success.
Rangers finished third in the Scottish Premiership last season, an incredible 39 points adrift of treble-winners Celtic, and manager Pedro Caixinha has made amends by wiping clean the slate.
The Portuguese has axed a number of senior players from the first-team squad, whilst moving to add his own trusted talent, with no fewer than six confirmed signings already through the door at Ibrox.
Caixinha has shopped for fresh talent both domestic and abroad, and has signed Bruno Alves, Ryan Jack, Fabio Cardoso, Dalcio, Daniel Candeias, and Alfredo Morelos from four different leagues.
But with several more signings reportedly on the way, Boyd knows from his own Celtic experiences that it is possible to build a brand new team in only one summer.
He told the Daily Record: “You can build a new team in one summer, if you have a good coach. Wim Jansen did it. He changed a few players but it took a wee while though.
“We lost our first two league games that season if you remember. But it did happen for us so it is possible.
“But it does seem a hell of a lot (of players that Rangers have signed). And they need to be quality players. I don’t know anything about those (Rangers) players.”
Jansen took charge of Celtic in July 1997, and immediately guided them to their first Scottish league title in 10 years before quitting the club.
The Dutch boss had brought in a large number of his own players following his arrival, including Celtic legend Henrik Larsson, Craig Burley, Darren Jackson and Paul Lambert.
In a similar move to Jansen, Rangers boss Caixinha has bolstered his squad with his own trusted players, including several relatively unknown names.
But only time will tell whether Rangers’ new look side has the quality to overhaul Celtic from their prolonged dominance across all domestic competitions next term.