Rangers hunt for Allan McGregor’s successor could be at an end with Jack Butland looking even more likely to be that man.
In an eventful day, Michael Beale has given updates on injuries, the players leaving, why Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent weren’t offered new deals but most intriguing was his claim about a goalkeeper.
Michael Beale has revealed that Rangers have wrapped up their new number one, with Jack Butland being the favourite for some time, and that an announcement is imminent, as reported by The Scotsman:
“We will announce a goalkeeper in the next 10 days or so I believe so it is pretty much done.”
If Rangers are in a position to reveal a signing, it would suggest that everything has been finalised other than the fact that the player still has commitments.
Conveniently, Jack Butland has a couple of league games and the small matter of an FA Cup final before he will be free to move on.
Players like Angus Gunn always seemed like solid options but he wouldn’t come cheap.
Rangers have made the right move going for Jack Butland
Butland’s recent inactivity shouldn’t be seen as a negative.
He’s in good shape physically and has a point to prove.
The England international is also still in his prime years and has the potential to be Rangers keeper for the next five years and beyond.
Having to play second fiddle for the last couple of seasons should see the 30-year old highly motivated to prove that he still has what it takes to be a top goalkeeper.
What better stage to prove this than at Rangers where Jack Butland could be a key component in winning trophies and competing in Europe.
The dream signing is doscovering the next Gianluigi Buffon, Thibaut Courtois, or Gianluigi Donnarumma but, in a summer where money will need to be spent on adding firepower. A low-risk goalkeeper makes sense.
Nine caps for England and plenty of Premier League experience tells me Rangers are making the right choice with Jack Butland and that he is a good place to start to the rebuild.