(Credit: Imago)

Ben Palmer

Thu 21 August 2025 16:00, UK

Hearts are looking to shatter the dominance of Celtic and Rangers but will need to exercise caution in the transfer market to do so.

Cyriel Dessers is my pick for Player of the Year vs Celtic and Hearts stars - Le Tissier	'Incredible' - Le Tissier backs Tony Bloom to bring title to Hearts in less than 10 years	Le Tissier backs Rangers star for Golden Boot win over Daizen Maeda, Lawrence Shankland

That is according to former England and Southampton striker Matt Le Tissier, who told Football Insider exclusively that if Derek McInnes’ side got their recruitment right, the big two could become a big three in the Premiership.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom purchased a 29% stake in Hearts this summer with the intent of breaking the dominance of Celtic and Rangers.

No Scottish side other than the Old Firm’s members has won a top-flight title since Aberdeen in 1985.

Bloom has made a name for himself in the transfer market in particular, with his savvy and data-led recruitment propelling Brighton to the Premier League from League One since taking over in 2009.

And whilst it seems improbable, Le Tissier believes that Bloom can be the catalyst for Hearts’ first title since 1960.

Tony Bloom purchased a stake in Hearts this summer.

(Credit: Getty Images)

This article contains exclusive comment from former Southampton and England striker Matt Le Tissier.

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The 2025/26 season is just two games old, but Hearts currently sit atop the table thanks to wins over Aberdeen and Dundee FC.

Speaking to Football Insider exclusively, Le Tissier explained that if McInnes’ side is to have any chance of toppling the Old Firm, it would all come down to their recruitment, and more specifically, not selling their best players or letting their managers go to either of Celtic or Rangers.

He said: “I think what they have to do is, if they are getting that recruitment right, to not sell their best players to Celtic.

Derek McInnes was linked with the Rangers job earlier in the summer.

Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media

“That for me is the key to it.

“Down in England, lots of clubs can’t keep climbing because when you have a couple of good seasons as a smaller club you do find that the bigger clubs come in, take your best players, take your manager, and it becomes hard then to go again.

“If they get the recruitment right at Hearts and they don’t sell their best players to Celtic or Rangers, then who knows what could happen.”

Whilst Bloom’s investment could propel Hearts up the pecking order of Scottish football, it may come with consequences for the other members of the league.

Finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Celtic and Rangers’ strong showings in Europe have generated a lot of money for other Scottish sides.

Brendan Rodgers led Celtic to the knockout rounds of the Champions League last season.

(Credit: Imago)

The money keeps the two sides at the top of the SPFL, but going deep into European competition has its benefits for the revenue of the league as a whole.

Should Hearts displace one of those two sides, it may cause Celtic and Rangers to take a big hit financially and then struggle in Europe as a result.

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