When Allan McGregor started to make uncharacteristic mistakes in the second half of last season, it seemed that the inevitable would happen and that the curtain would finally close on one of the finest-ever Rangers careers. When Jon McLaughlin extended his contract before the season ended we knew that we were going into the summer transfer window with a solid backup already secured.
McLaughlin had never let us down in a Rangers shirt and started the season as number one, given a chance to show that he was a better fit for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s style of play, however, a horror show at Parkhead, followed by an untimely injury has seen him relegated to the bench behind McGregor once again.
It feels though like we are back at square one. McLaughlin doesn’t seem to be trusted or a popular choice with the fans, and yet, McGregor is conceding far too many goals that he should be stopping – the mistake of not signing a new first-choice keeper in the summer being badly exposed in the process.
There are few top-quality keepers that are available in our price range, the risk of signing a promising youngster could be costly and if Robby McCrorie was seen as a genuine long-term option then he would have been getting more minutes by now, especially after his displays last season.
The one stand-out, and obvious choice, is Jack Butland. Currently behind Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone – a former Rangers target himself – in the pecking order at Crystal Palace, the nine-times capped England international is out of contract at the end of this season.
The goalkeeper shouldn’t be treated any differently than any other position in that we need to upgrade that position and we could lose out on an experienced and quality player if we don’t move fast enough.
Palace shouldn’t be difficult to deal with given his status at the club and I’d guarantee that Butland would jump at the chance to become a regular starter again, it was a no-brainer in the summer, and it remains one now. It was a decision that cost us the league last year and it’s one that could well cost us again this year if we don’t act before it’s too late.