OPINION
While many outside of Scotland, and even some inside, rubbish the quality of the country’s top flight division, Celtic are on a quest to prove that they have what it takes to mix it with the best of those south of the border.
Claims are often made, unsubstantiated of course, that the Scottish Premiership is only on par with the likes of England’s Championship, and that the Premier League is far beyond what the top clubs north of Hadrian’s Wall can offer in terms of quality.
The only real judge can be made in Europe, and with Aberdeen pushing Burnley to extra-time in their Europa League qualifier, perhaps the Scottish clubs can consider themselves closer than ever to their English counterparts.
The biggest comparison is of course Celtic, with their reign of dominance over the rest of the country, and as the only Scottish representative in the Champions League, they need to make sure they are strong enough to do themselves proud.
With just one new face through the door at Parkhead, manager Brendan Rodgers knows he has to strengthen to improve their chances on the European stage – so to be targeting a player wanted by a side promoted from England’s third tier last season is hardly the way to be going about it.
The Daily Record claim that Blackburn Rovers are a new name to have joined the race for Hibernian midfielder John McGinn, the Hoops heavily linked with his capture this summer, and if that is the sort of level targeting his signature, then Rodgers has let standards slip at the club.
The record breaking capture of Odsonne Edouard suggested this was a summer to get excited for at Celtic Park but things have not transpired that way, and now to be battling a newly-promoted Championship side for the capture of a midfielder sinks it to new lows.
Rodgers needs to reassess his targets and push for ambitious swoops – or continue to be compared to the English second tier rather than the top flight.