Celtic have Champions League dreams on Championship cash but boast sales pitch worth more than just money

It’s a good thing Mark Lawwell has spent a decade around the edge of Celtic’s transfer dealings and a good bit longer watching his old man hammering the phones and pacing the floors over signings.

There will be no nasty surprises for the incoming recruitment chief in the next few weeks and he’ll know exactly the remit when it comes to the Hoops talent search.

Celtic need to sign Champions League players with an English Championship budget.

Best of luck.

It’s something a lot of folk don’t get, when it comes to Celtic and Rangers.

These are clubs who are expected to make an impact in Europe, but there’s not much notice paid to the logistics.

What Rangers did in reaching the Europa League Final was beyond belief. Honestly, it was off the chart what the Ibrox club managed.

Rangers have a budget on a par with Cardiff City. You wouldn’t expect the Welsh club to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup never mind the final of a European trophy.

Celtic’s wage bill is a tad higher but it’s still barely on a par with the clubs who would be fighting to get in to the Championship play-offs.

We’re hearing a lot in the last few weeks with folk suggesting Ange Postecoglou’s men need to make an impression on the Champions League.

An impression?

Chuck midtable second tier mob West Brom in to the pot four and see how far their £60m wage bill – which is far more than Celtic’s – and see how what kind of impression they would make.

Probably one of a clown car with the wheels falling off.

Yet Celtic will get slaughtered if they get scudded around the place when they get there in September.

Rangers will get the same if they can come through the treacherous qualifiers to join the big boys.

The Ibrox side have shown there can be times when money