SPL Winner Odds 26/27 Season: Can anyone stop Celtic?

It was perhaps the most exciting Scottish Premiership title race in 40+ years last season, as we finally got a three-horse race. Ultimately though, Celtic won yet again for their fifth straight title and will be quietly thinking of another nine-in-a-row run...

So can anyone stop the Bhoys this time? Rangers have strengthened and surely Hearts will remain a threat. Below you can find the SPL Winner Odds 26/27 season, with an analysis of all the contenders to win the title.

Celtic @ 4/5

It would take a brave person indeed to back against Celtic winning a sixth straight Premiership title, with Martin O'Neill's men coming back from the brink last season to pip both Rangers and, more surprisingly, Hearts to the trophy.

Celtic had a frankly bizarre season, with their manager at the start of the season Brendan Rodgers resigning in late October, sitting eight points off the top and being accused of divisive behaviour by major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

In came club legend Martin O'Neill as the interim manager, who steadied the ship and dragged the side back to the top of the table. However, he was replaced in early December by Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, who was brought in from MLS club Columbus Crew.

The Nancy era lasted just 33 days after a truly calamitous reign that saw him lose six of his eight games in charge and look frankly way out of his depth. There was only one name that could get the fans back on board and rescue what looked like a season to forget for the Bhoys - in stepped O'Neill for his second spell of the season and third in charge of the club.

What followed next was simply magnificent, with the 74-year-old showing time was of no significance, as he took the side from six points behind to the championship, beating Hearts on the final day to clinch the trophy. This was O'Neill's fourth SPL title and was quickly followed with a domestic double as they beat Dunfermline in the cup.

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So surely this season should be one of stability and calmness after the former Leicester boss signed a one-year contract and agreed to oversee another season in Glasgow? Apparently not as the fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with their lack of transfer activity over the summer.  The only major moves so far have been outgoings with strikers Kelechi Iheanacho (free) and Daizen Maeda (£10m) leaving for Bursaspor and Ipswich Town respectively.

O'Neill has publicly said he's not worried though and this week they have started to make moves to bring in quality new additions to the title-winning squad. They have enquired to Real Oviedo about Egyptian winger Haissem Hassan who shone at the recent World Cup.

Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur looks to be a £4m done deal and could join Camilo Duran as the Hoops second signing of the summer. Other names in the offing included renewed interest in Bodo/Glimt striker Kasper Hogh, who was the subject of a bid back in January and could well be heading across the North Sea.

The new season is due to start on 31 July, so the Celtic board will be keen to get the squad finalised for O'Neill to start working his magic. One thing is for sure though, regardless of the start they get, the 56-time league champions will be up fighting for yet another title by the end of the campaign.

Rangers @ 11/8

So what about Celtic's cross-city rivals Rangers?

The Gers had a bit of a season to forget in 25/26, finishing out of the top two for the first time since 2017/18 and more importantly 10 points behind their hated neighbours and eight points behind Hearts.

They also had their own managerial merry-go-round with no fewer than four people in charge during the season. Interim boss Barry Ferguson was replaced by ex-Southampton manager Russell Martin in June but he was sacked after just 17 games, with the club down in eighth place in the league and destroyed in Europe by a 9-1 aggregate drubbing by Club Brugge.

Steven Smith took the reins for a week before Danny Rohl arrived after leaving administration-riddled Sheffield Wednesday. The German quickly had a galvanising effect with Rangers winning 11 of his first 14 league games in charge, but despite being top over Easter weekend, fell short of a title run at the death.

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The 37-year-old had signed a two and a half year deal but was quickly moved on after a disappointing finish and is now the new boss at Red Bull Salzburg. His replacement was a shock not just in Glasgow but in the capital too, with Hearts' Derek McInnes taking the job on a three-year contract.

Not only did Gers take their manager but they also took perhaps their best player, in striker Lawrence Shankland, who opened his account on his home debut, scoring the opener in a 2-1 friendly win over French side St Etienne. Shankland, who scored 72 goals for the Edinburgh club, is joined at Ibrox by his former teammate Cammy Devlin, who also impressed in central midfield when coming on as a substitute.

McInnes side played some attractive, easy-on-the-eye passing and will surely put up a better title challenge than they did under Martin and Rohl. However, they will be without their new figurehead after he received a four-match touchline ban for criticising the 'disgusting' decision to award Celtic a penalty in their 3-2 win against Motherwell in May, a victory that proved pivotal in the title race.

Hearts @ 13/2

So what of Hearts, who suffered a devastating final day heart break, as they were soundly beaten 3-1 by their title rivals Celtic?

As mentioned they have lost their manager and two of their best players in Shankland and Devlin but have moved quickly to try and mount another title push for what would be their first championship for 60+ years, after a truly stunning effort last season.

The Jambos have brought in Belgian manager Wouter Vrancken, who is taking on a first role outside his home country, after successful spells at Genk and St-Truiden, where he was named coach of the year on both occasions and won the title with the former. However, there will be serious doubts as to whether he can emulate the team spirit and togetherness that McInnes did in his time at Tynecastle.

The Hearts board have also opened up their coffers and brought in no fewer than 10 players already in the summer transfer window, with the latest being a long-awaited deal for Forest Green midfielder Laurent Mendy. He will join the likes of Cormac Daly, Amadou Ba-Sy, Tom Renaud, Sabri Guendouz, Josh McPake, Calvin Miller, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and goalkeeper Beau Reus in a newly refreshed Jam Tarts squad.

Obviously with so many signings, a new manager and a new style of play, it may take some time to knit everything together, but with the brilliant Hearts support behind them and the club riding the crest of a wave from last season's heroics, it would be foolish to rule them out of playing a major part this stanza.

Hibernian @ 66/1

Hibs are priced as the best of the rest by our Betfred traders and look a long shot to finish anywhere other than outside the top three. David Gray's side started their Europa Conference League campaign in poor style this week, losing 2-0 to Kosovan club Malisheva and don't look to have strengthened sufficiently enough to mount a serious challenge at the top of the SPFL.

Aberdeen @ 80/1

Elsewhere Aberdeen are the only other club in double figures odds-wise and after a ninth-placed finish last term, will surely just be looking at a top-half finish as a huge sign of improvement.

Just like Hearts, the Dons have had a big squad rotation, also bringing in ten players to Pittodrie and Stephen Robinson will be hopeful that a first full pre-season on the training ground with the side will provide sound dividends.