Glasgow Rangers have been hit with a European concern ahead of the 2022/23 campaign...    

What's the talk?

The Glasgow Times have dropped an update explaining what Villarreal's progress in the Champions League could mean for teams in Scotland.

If the Spanish outfit go on to win the European title this season then it is would mean that Gers would need to go through the qualification stages in 2022/23 - if they were to win the Premiership title.

As it stands, the winners of the Scottish top-flight will immediately qualify for the group stages of the Champions League next season. This would result in a major £40m bonus for competing in the competition, but that is now under threat.

Their automatic qualification will be taken away if a team wins the tournament this year whilst failing to finish in the top four of their domestic league. Villarreal are on their way to doing this as they are in the semi-finals whilst currently sitting seventh in LaLiga.

Gio van Bronckhorst will be sweating...

This update will leave the Gers head coach sweating buckets as it gives him another Champions League concern to worry about.

Firstly, he is nearing the end of an exciting - for the neutrals - Premiership title battle as the Light Blues are attempting to catch up with Celtic in the table. They are six points behind their rivals as it stands and will not be giving up on their attempts to lift the trophy for the second season in a row.

Whilst it may seem unlikely due to the current gap between the two teams, all Rangers can do is continue to win games in the league and hope that the Hoops drop points along the way. If they can claw it back and secure a stunning title win then that would put them in a fantastic position to qualify for the Champions League, but that is now in danger.

Van Bronckhorst will now have to keep a close eye on results in the competition and root for Liverpool in the semi-finals against Villarreal. He will be desperate, as will Ange Postecoglou, for the Spanish side to fail in their efforts to win the tournament as it would dampen Rangers' chances of hitting the £40m jackpot later this year.

Although they will still have the opportunity to access that cash fund if they make their way through the qualification phase, the Dutch head coach would surely prefer to go straight into the group stage instead of enduring the stress of play-off football.

AND in other news, From £4.5m to £25m: Wilson had huge Rangers howler over "remarkable" 12-goal gem...