Michael Beale shares Rangers transfer news on goalkeeper hunt with wild goose chase underway
Rangers manager Michael Beale has stated that a new goalkeeper signing is just days away but his intriguing comments have questioned if it will be Jack Butland, as reported by Football Scotland.
He did say that a fresh arrival would be confirmed on Wednesday, ahead of the Scottish Premiership game against Hearts, but this new update provides a new talking point.
Butland is currently at Manchester United in a backup role to David de Gea, on loan from Crystal Palace with a free transfer out of Selhurst Park on the cards at the end of the campaign.
Beale teased the identity of the new keeper to come in at Ibrox but it is obvious that the transfer business for the new campaign is underway.
“Butland is still an option. You guys (media) are on a wild goose chase and you are getting further away,” he said.
“We’ll announce a new signing (on Wednesday).
“There are different bits going on, there are different parts to the window. You have the moment when players are out of contract that you can announce coming in.
“Most of our work will be done on buying and selling so that will be done in a few weeks when the window opens.
“We will announce a goalkeeper in the next 10 days or so I believe, so it is pretty much done.”
No time to wait
It may be the last week of the current season, but already the preparations are gathering pace for the next campaign.
On Tuesday, the club confirmed that five senior players would be leaving, as most expected, while two or three deals for incoming players are said to be in place.
Kieran Dowell is thought to be the player who will be unveiled on Wednesday with plenty more to follow.
As for the goalkeeper question, what a very intriguing remark from Beale. He has spoken to Butland and wants to bring him to Glasgow. Is he just teasing the press or will it actually be the England international who is landed as the effective replacement for Allan McGregor?
Robby McCrorie will have something to say about that, but things are starting to take shape. There is no time to wait as the transfer business begins in what will be a manic couple of months ahead at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, this Ibrox veteran could be set for another contract twist with talks ahead to find a mutual solution for him and the club.