{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Rangers: Chris Jack shares verdict on Jack Butland to Birmingham City rumours
Journalist Chris Jack would be “surprised” and “amazed” if Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland had any interest in returning to Birmingham City.
TEAMtalk reported last month that Butland is on a shortlist of players Birmingham are hoping to sign, having missed out on him in the summer.
However, the former England international only arrived at Ibrox in June, and the Gers will not be looking to sell arguably their best player this season.
Discussing the speculation on the Rangers Review podcast [17 November, 17m 31s], Jack said: “That’s something Rangers have always been aware of. Nobody really thought of Butland in the summer as a player you could flip for a bit of profit.
“I don’t think it would be something Jack is keen on at all just by the way he’s spoken. I’d be surprised, given the way he spoke in the summer, and a couple of times since.
“If it had been a different stage of his career, a one last period type of move, then maybe he’d go back down south and sit on the bench. At 30, I don’t see what’s in it for him.
“Yes, he’d make more money in England, but if he goes to Birmingham City, he’s not playing European football anytime soon, he’s not challenging for leagues and cups. I just get the sense that’s why he’s here, that’s what attracted him to Rangers.
“He’s here to fulfil things in his career he’s not had. He’s played for big clubs, a lot of Premier League games, but he’s not had those big European nights, not had those cup finals, the Old Firm pressure games – that’s the selling point for Jack.
“So no, I’d be amazed if Birmingham is the type of move he’s looking at.”
Nothing to fear
Bringing in Butland in the summer was considered a good move for Rangers, but nobody expected the Englishman to have been quite as good as he has been.
The 30-year-old has been superb for Rangers this campaign under both Michael Beale and successor Philippe Clement – undoubtedly the best of the summer arrivals.
Butland signed a four-year deal at Ibrox, so even if he wanted to leave it would still be in the Gers’ hands. Should Birmingham offer a sizeable fee, then a decision would have to be made.
Realistically speaking, though, Butland looks very happy in Glasgow, and the club have no reason to sell – especially when it would mean spending the money trying to find a replacement.
English Championship side Birmingham had a chance to re-sign the keeper earlier this year and failed to do so. Their loss is very much Rangers’ gain.
In other Rangers news, Barry Ferguson has suggested the Gers could rival Celtic for an in-form player.