Rangers: Jon McLaughlin faces uncertain future at Ibrox after Jack Butland news
Jon McLaughin’s Rangers future is currently uncertain, following news on the prospective signing of Jack Butland, as reported by Chris Jack for The Herald.
The Scotland international was given his chance at the start of the season under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but a string of unconvincing performances meant he was back to an understudy role with Allan McGregor as the preferred choice in the early stages of Michael Beale’s reign.
The club’s pursuit of Butland will be to replace McGregor as the long-term number-one goalkeeper at Ibrox.
Overall, the keeper situation is an intriguing one with change ahead over the summer. The arrival of the nine-cap England international would reinforce that.
“Allan McGregor is set to bring the curtain down on his illustrious Rangers career when his contract ends in the coming weeks and the future remains uncertain for Jon McLaughlin following a mixed term between the sticks as he failed to establish himself as the new first choice keeper,” Jack wrote.
“That role will now be filled by Butland as he closes in on a Bosman switch to Ibrox when his Crystal Palace deal expires this summer.”
End of the road?
The only viable option for McLaughlin to remain at Rangers is if he is content to take up a support role in the squad as a third choice as well as having responsibilities in training.
He will be 36 in September so it would be understandable if he wants to leave the club in order to play first-team football but that can no longer be possible in Govan.
Butland would come in with big expectations to meet, as well as having to establish himself as a regular player once more. Beyond that, Robby McCrorie deserves to compete for the gloves as a second choice if he is to stay.
The 25-year-old will surely get time on the pitch in the coming weeks but is very unlikely to be a realistic contender to be the number one for Beale. Even if he leaves, McLaughlin is not the answer as a deputy. His time is all but up.
In other Rangers news, the club is said to have sent a scout for a Tavernier challenger ahead of a summer ‘recruitment drive’