Jack Butland could leave Ibrox in ‘properly sobering’ Rangers verdict after Celtic defeat
Jack Butland is the only Rangers player who would make it into a “bang average” Celtic side and he may not be around at Ibrox much longer, says Bill Leckie.
The Scottish Sun journalist wrote on 12 May that it was a “properly sobering” thought for Philippe Clement and the Light Blues that the Hoops’ “worst” title-winning side was so much better, with only the star keeper likely to be preferred over fellow ex-England international Joe Hart at Parkhead.
According to Leckie “freak of nature” goal and assist machine James Tavernier’s defending has ruled him him out, while John Souttar gets slight consideration compared to Liam Scales, but Mohamed Diomande’s potential is too far from realisation to support his case.
The journalist expects both sides of the Old Firm to require a major overhaul this summer but Rangers are doing so from a far worse position, which could be even worse if Butland leaves.
He wrote: “Only one guy in his dressing room is good enough for the team who are his yardstick — and let’s face it, that one guy’s so good he might well be gone before next season comes around.
“As for the rest, we all saw once again where they’re at when push comes to shove — miles off the pace, both in terms of footballing ability and mental agility.”
Philippe Clement sees Rangers side throw title away
Dujon Sterling might feel he has a case for making it into any combined Glasgow XI but the point stands that, despite looking the stronger of the two Old Firm rivals at times this season, this Rangers side has come up short at crunch time.
It would be a huge overreaction to say that the entire Light Blues playing staff is no good, and it has to be said that the 2-1 defeat at Parkhead came as a full-strength Celtic side faced a Gers team missing all of Leon Balogun, Connor Goldson, Danilo, Ryan Jack, Abdallah Sima, Rabbi Matondo and Oscar Cortes, while Ridvan Yilmaz was only fit enough for the bench.
Two of the starters on the day are expected to leave to the same destination in a matter of weeks in Borna Barisic and John Lundstram, and while the former was far from the worst offender in this derby the latter might have been the worst in any derby for multiple seasons.
There is also far too much inconsistency from players who have demonstrated they have quality, with the likes of Souttar and Diomande both putting in bad performances in this key game.
Butland hasn’t been infallible this term but has to be one of the best free transfers by Rangers in years, making it unsurprising that the Premier League have already tried to take him back once when Nottingham Forest were rejected in January [Scottish Sun, 25 February], and fears remain that mega bids will be on the way this summer.
For his part the 31-year-old has given no evidence of planning to leave, and has if anything suggested he is aiming to do the opposite, but money talks and even his patience could be worn out if he feels those around him are letting the side down.
In other Rangers news, a “great” Light Blues attacker is wanted for a permanent exit from Ibrox.
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