Rangers can sign Jack Butland but have to make moves to land Josh Tymon
Rangers have a free run at Crystal Palace keeper Jack Butland, but would need to make changes to sign Stoke’s Josh Tymon, according to Alan Nixon.
The Sun journalist had previously reported on his Patreon [29 May] that the Gers were interested in former England keeper Butland, who would be available for a “bargain price” as Patrick Vieira was ready to let him go.
The 29-year-old wants first team football and, with Allan McGregor still not in talks over a new deal according to Rangers Review, that may be on offer at Ibrox, while it appears not to be at main rivals Bournemouth.
In response to a question on his personal Twitter account on Saturday morning [11 June] Nixon wrote: “Butland is there to be done if they figure out how to do it”.
He followed up in response to another question to clarify the position with the Cherries, saying: “Any new keeper would have to compete to start … that’s checked a few of the options … increasing faith in [Paddy] Travers … but still need a good one to rival him”.
On Potters left-back Tymon, Nixon had reported on his Patreon [5 June] that he would cost £5million and the club may have to sell Borna Barisic to make it happen.
The Croatian is reportedly due to be subject of a bid from Turkish champions Trabzonspor and the Bears would demand £4million for him [Football Scotland].
But despite that, in response to a suggestion that the club would not spend the £5million asking price on 23-year-old Tymon and would have to haggle the fee down, Nixon wrote: “You’ve just about summed that one up”.
Necessary?
Until long-time number one McGregor’s future is settled it will be difficult for the Light Blues to make corresponding moves.
If he is to walk away at the age of 40 Butland looks like the ideal replacement, with the circumstances lined up to make him cheap, available, and in search of first-team football.
The fact there is interest in him suggests the club aren’t entirely confident handing the gloves to Jon McLaughlin, so Butland would be a good alternative.
Moving for Tymon seems less of a pressing requirement, and considering he is likely to only be a back-up to star man Calvin Bassey, assuming the Nigerian stays, it would be an expensive outlay.
Whether the Englishman would want to move north of the border to sit on the bench seems unlikely, so regardless of the interest in Barisic, which probably won’t net a major fee, the future of Bassey seems more relevant.
If the Scottish-record fee the club will demand for him [Sky Sports] gets put on the table then they could afford the Stoke man, a Barisic replacement, Butland and more.
Absent that, movement isn’t really necessary at the position, but decisions do need to be made in goal.
In other Rangers news, the club are about to lose three key members of the backroom staff and will be forced to make major appointments in replacement.