Scottish Premiership transfers: What do Hearts, Celtic and Rangers need in the January window to boost their title hopes? | Football news

With the transfer window for Scottish Premiership clubs officially opening on January 1, what do Hearts, Celtic and Rangers need to boost their title dreams?

This will be the first chance for Wilfried Nancy and Danny Röhl to complete the squads they have inherited since taking charge of Celtic and Rangers respectively.

At Hearts, head coach Derek McInnes, aided by Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics company, will be hoping to unearth more gems after a successful summer window.

Just six points separate the three clubs, with Chris Sutton believing that whoever has the best window at the start of 2026 will win the title…

Boyd: Hearts must cut down title-chasing team

Hearts are the first non-Old Firm club to find themselves at the summit of Scottish football heading into a new year since the 1993-94 season, and they have already kicked off preparations for the second half of the campaign.

Attacking right-back Jordi Altena has agreed a deal until the summer of 2029, joining from Dutch club RKC Waalwijk, while Kazakh winger Islam Chesnokov is expected to arrive at Tynecastle Park in the coming days.

While McInnes will be happy for the club to strengthen in the areas he identified at the start of the window, Kris Boyd believes additional attacking support could be key, while also letting some fringe players go.

“They are signing Altena and Chesnokov, and Eduardo Ageu, the record player, will be back in midfield. They have some returning players,” Boyd said. Warming up.

“If Lawrence Shankland’s goals dry up, or something happens to him, then I think that’s the number nine area they might want to look at. However, it’s very difficult to go for another striker when you’ve already got so many.

“Hearts’ biggest problem is that the squad is bloated, it’s big. They’ll probably have to move some players out, although I imagine that might be a bigger priority for the summer.”

‘Celtic need to improve their average squad’

Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson said he had already started working with Nancy on plans for the January and summer windows.

However, after five defeats in seven matches, the Frenchman will be hoping new signings arrive sooner rather than later if he is to help Celtic retain the title.

Asked what Celtic need in the coming weeks, Sutton replied: “How much time do you have left?

“Everyone needs a striker. Recruitment was far from sufficient this summer.

“I think the centre-back positions, especially on the right side, are a problem. They also have a problem with Hyun-Jun Yang at right-back.

“Even if you look at the middle of the park, I’m a big fan of Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor.

“However, Benjamin Nygren has been patchy, although he has scored recently which has been important. I’m still not totally convinced by Arne Engels, so you need to bring in better players than you currently have.

“I think it’s fair to say they’re a very average Celtic team.”

“Rangers need players who understand the club”

Röhl hopes to add defensive reinforcement, as well as depth to his midfield and attacking areas, to improve his starting XI.

Westerlo left-back Tuur Rommens and former Ibrox player Josh Windass have been mooted as options for January.

However, former Gers striker Steven Naismith, who won six major titles including three league titles, believes any signing must be aware of the pressures of playing at the club.

“They need better quality in all areas,” said the Scottish coach. “He needs a striker, he needs a constant threat in front of goal.

“It’s similar to Celtic in that they both need guys who can be counted on every week to create chances and score goals. That’s what the most successful Rangers and Celtic teams have always had.

“Going through the team, I think Rangers need players who understand what Rangers are about – that leaving home and getting a draw is not acceptable. That’s probably the biggest thing they need.”