Rangers can sign Jack Butland for ‘bargain price’ with Crystal Palace to let him leave
Rangers could sign goalkeeping transfer target Jack Butland for a “bargain price” after Crystal Palace decided he can leave the club, according to Alan Nixon.
The journalist reported in The Sun on Saturday night (28 May) that the former England international’s future was unclear and that the Gers were “on alert” over his availability.
But he has since gone further on his Patreon, reporting that the Eagles will now let him leave in search of first team football.
He has second fiddle to Vicente Guaita at Selhurst Park, so Patrick Vieira has “cleared the way for Butland to go”.
The 29-year-old could be available for a “bargain price” if Giovanni van Bronckhorst goes after him, with the club apparently having other targets in mind amid uncertainty over the future of Allan McGregor.
They face competition from Bournemouth, but while the Cherries apparently would see him as a back-up option, the Bears’ interest relates to qualifying for the Champions League.
Hesitation
Dependent on just how “bargain” the price for the former Stoke man is will probably determine the likelihood of him arriving at Ibrox this summer.
If he is genuinely available for cheap, rather than simply cheap by English Premier League standards, then he would seem like a very solid candidate to replace 40-year-old McGregor if he does decide to retire.
Should the long-time Light Blue return it would presumably scupper such a move since the Englishman would surely be able to earn more as a reserve at Bournemouth.
Thanks to his extended service Rangers are probably unlikely to pressure their current number one into a decision on his future, but the sooner he confirms one way or the other the sooner they can make plans for next season.
If he waits too long then decides to bow out then opportunities such as this one may be gone, although it depends on who the other options the club have in mind are.
Similarly, if they want to wait on qualification to the Champions League after the pre-season qualifiers it could also be too late, so if they want Butland they shouldn’t hesitate and instead get him in now in order to help them in that endeavour.
The profile at Ibrox has no doubt been lifted by the stunning run through Europe so there may be higher-profile targets than usual available, but if that is the case the club should strike while this season is fresh in the memory.
In other Rangers news, the club are due to make a loss of over a million pounds on an imminent sale.