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