Tony Bloom backed to play key Hearts title race role as crucial transfer window factor can trigger glory
Hearts have Rangers and Celtic to contend with when it comes to the Premiership title race.
Chris Sutton reckons the title race will be decided in January - by who out of Hearts, Celtic and Rangers does best in the winter transfer window.
The Jambos lost their first game of the league season on Sunday as Aberdeen inflicted a 1-0 loss upon Derek McInnes’ side. They still sit top of the table after a strong start to the campaign and will look to get back on track this weekend when they travel to face Motherwell at Fir Park.
Celtic legend Sutton has been impressed by Hearts, with backing by investor Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics recruitment software a key factor. He reckons that if Hearts can do the best winter shopping out of them, Rangers and his former club, then they will have a clear path to becoming champions in May.
Can Hearts become Premiership champions?
Sutton told Monday Night Club in relation to Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy closing in on becoming Celtic boss: “Oh, look, I think it's a really difficult job. I do and I think it's a difficult job based on the squad that he's taking over. I think Martin O'Neill has in the short term, and I'm not just saying this because he's my old boss, I think he's done really well domestically to win four games.
“There are injuries to key players and I think it's really difficult. I think it's going to be close the title this season, north of the border. I think it will all come down to January and it would all come down to who recruits the best in January, and that's Hearts, Celtic and Rangers. Who recruits the best will win the league.
“It looks like Rangers are going to spend. Hearts have Tony Bloom, who we know is a really shrewd operator. But Celtic's squad absolutely no doubt needs strengthening in January.”
Will Hearts spend in January transfer window?
Sutton added on The Warm Up: “I know we’ve written Rangers off because of the nature of their start but I think they are still in a title race. Of course Hearts, first loss at the weekend, but maybe reasons for that. I expect them to bounce back and they now know they are with a chance. You expect Tony Bloom... he’s a shrewd cookie. You expect him to get on the right side of the recruitment so I think it’s going to be really close. I couldn’t pick a winner and I think all three clubs have work to do in January.”
Midfielder Cammy Devlin said of Hearts’ loss at Aberdeen: “I think you're probably not going to go a season undefeated. It tests your character, it tests your resilience. Obviously, we've been fortunate with scoring a couple of late goals to either get a draw or get wins.
“You're kind of rolling with the momentum and there's going to be bumps in the road. We always knew that. It's encouraging that when you've got a bump in the road and you lose a game but it was a game where we still created.”