Rangers now seem very, very confident about a deal for Jack Butland as the 30-year-old closes in on a move to Ibrox.
Michael Beale is in desperate need of a new glovesman in Glasgow with Allan McGregor – who turns 42 next year – out of contract in July.
Now – according to The Scottish Sun – Rangers are closing in on a replacement, and have even sorted out his kit number for next season.
Rangers close in on Jack Butland
Well, Butland is set to be handed the No.1 shirt soon as he finds himself on the brink of joining Rangers.
Beale is said to have held a long-term interest in the £40,000-a-week man for many years now, and looks set to finally get a chance to work with him.
The Scottish Sun believe the England international will take McGregor’s number as he prepares to step in between the sticks and replace the experienced glovesman.
It will be a huge opportunity for Butland, who hasn’t actually been the outright No.1 for a few years now.
The Bristol-born goalkeeper was the main man in between the sticks for Stoke back in the 2019/20 campaign, making 35 Championship appearances for the Potters.
However – since his £1m move to Crystal Palace in October 2020 – Butland has not been a regular starter.
The man with 87 Premier League appearances to his name found himself competing against Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone at Selhurst Park, before joining Manchester United on loan in January as a backup to David de Gea.
Therefore, Butland’s imminent move to Rangers will see him take on a huge amount of responsibility as the No.1 – something he hasn’t experienced for almost three years now.
Nevertheless, the soon-to-be free agent boasts plenty of experience at both club level as well as on the international scene, so he shouldn’t be phased by the task of replacing McGregor at Ibrox.
