Jack Butland at risk of Rangers transfer exit to English Premier League – Chris Jack
The “only downside” to the success that Jack Butland has had at Rangers is that he will now be a target for English Premier League clubs, according to Chris Jack.
The journalist said on the Rangers Review morning briefing on 19 September that the Gers will have to “fight” to keep hold of the goalkeeper, who he classified as the only definitive hit from the summer transfer business.
Jack believes there will be interest in the former England international as quickly as the end of the season, and tipped a transfer to materialise which the club “will make money on” after the free agent signing from Crystal Palace.
Jack said (9m 20s): “The only downside of Butland, I don’t know if it’s a point that a lot of people have actually considered, at his age he will be a target for English Premier League clubs over the next couple of seasons.
“They also have to tick certain boxes that we do in terms of European squads and I think Butland will be a target. He’s someone there will be a bit of interest in come the end of the season.
“I know Rangers got him on a free transfer and they obviously will make money on that transfer, but I think he is someone they will have to fight to hold on to, given how impressive he’s been, and the age and the profile.”
Occupational hazard
It is both a blessing and a curse to bring a player of Butland’s profile to Ibrox in that it should mean he is a major asset to the squad, but if he performs too well he inevitably becomes a transfer target.
Michael Beale, or whoever ends up being in charge of Rangers come next summer, would undoubtedly hope that he remains and continues to play well for the long term.
But there are worse things to happen than a player arriving on a free transfer and being sold for a hefty profit after just a year.
It would of course leave the club needing to find a replacement, although it might bring Robby McCrorie back into the frame to provide the answer.
What Beale needs to worry about more pressingly is that it is highly unlikely, so far, that any of the other summer arrivals will be under any sort of threat.
He would likely trade needing to fight to keep hold of some of his new signings for them actually playing well enough to warrant such attention, amid a stuttering start to the season that has already put his job in jeopardy.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have bee warned about a player who claims he was attacked by the sporting director before making his controversial switch.