Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland

Four Lads share 'ridiculous' verdict as Jack Butland Rangers exit mooted

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Rangers would only contemplate allowed Jack Butland to depart this summer if a "ridiculous" offer nearing £15million were tabled, according to Stevie Clifford of the Four Lads Had a Dream podcast.

Speaking on the Rangers Review with Chris Jack (19 June), Clifford discussed the impending arrival of Motherwell stopper Liam Kelly on a free transfer to Ibrox [Sky Sports] and made clear that he'd be second-choice to Butland .

Butland's form last season had seen reports arise that he could be on the way out of Glasgow this summer but Clifford is confident he'll still be at the club in the coming campaign.

Clifford said: "I don't see Jack Butland leaving this summer, I'm pretty confident that he'll stay.

"That's caveated if somebody slaps £15million on the table. It'll need to be north of £10million for Rangers to be seriously considering it."

"Kelly's coming in to provide competition and backup. He's a no-brainer when it comes to second choice, but I'd be extremely surprised if Jack Butland isn't number one at the start of the season unless a ridiculous offer comes in."

Liam Kelly transfer won't threaten Jack Butland's Rangers position

A mass overhaul of the existing squad at Ibrox is already underway this summer as Philippe Clement tries to build a title-winning side, but Butland will remain as his undisputed first-choice goalkeeper [Chris Sutton].

Butland kept a whopping 18 Premiership clean sheets last season, collecting the Golden Glove award and even came close to an England recall so strong was his form for the Light Blues.

With that form came speculation that English Premier League or Championship sides may tempt the 30-year-old with a move south of the border, but Clement will do all he can to ensure that doesn't happen [Chris Jack].

Rangers Liam Kelly
Liam Kelly will arrive at Ibrox as back-up for Jack Butland.

Clifford's belief that he'll still be a Gers player by August comes in the hope that a "ridiculous" offer comes in for their number one, even mooting that Butland could be made the club's next captain.

The experience added by Kelly will help Clement in providing a clear alternative to Butland, but the Belgian will be hard-pressed to accept any situation in which Butland is not lining up between the Ibrox sticks next season [TeamTalk].

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