Daniel Feliciano

Mon 24 April 2023 18:10, UK

Rangers have cooled their interest in Manchester United goalkeeper Jack Butland due to a “limited budget” for summer signings, according to the Daily Mail.

Michael Beale was interested in signing Butland this summer on a free transfer, with his Crystal Palace contract due to expire once his loan at Old Trafford ends.

But the south London club have an option to extend his deal by another 12 months and with a decision not made yet on that, Rangers have decided to start looking abroad at other targets due to their financial constraints.

“David de Gea’s current understudy at Manchester United, Jack Butland, had interest from Rangers last week. However, Michael Beale’s men are now looking at other targets abroad,” they wrote (24 April).

“Butland is on loan from Crystal Palace, who have an option to extend his contract in the summer. Rangers have a limited budget so are exploring other options.”

Shame

Butland would have been a terrific pick up for Rangers, much in the same way that Joe Hart has worked out well for Celtic despite seemingly being on a downward trajectory at the time of his arrival.

Butland is young for a goalkeeper and has plenty of top-level experience, so getting him on a free transfer would have been an ideal move to replace the ageing and retirement-heading Allan McGregor.

However, somehow this club has got absolutely no money apparently to be able to attract top talent and strengthen the squad so it won’t be possible to do unless it’s free.

He’s likely to have high wages which doesn’t really come in line with what we need, but if the club is serious about progressing and making us contenders again something has to change.

It’ll be interesting to see who comes in instead, because it won’t be Butland now. The club need a cheaper option and someone who will need to learn the league seemingly, but we can’t get it wrong.

In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit was raging with the performance of one ace against Aberdeen.