The addition of Angus Gunn to the list of potential names to replace Allan McGregor as Rangers number one has brought another dimension to the search to find the man needed to fill the biggest boots in the squad.
If it’s true, it shows that Ross Wilson is willing to spend decent money to make sure he gets the right person for the job, although, as Celtic found out with Vasilis Barkas, money doesn’t always equate to a guarantee of success.
A name suggested last year by Vital Rangers has now been backed up by a report on Football Insider that claims current Manchester United backup Jack Butland is another viable option:
“Rangers are plotting to sign on-loan Man United goalkeeper Jack Butland this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
“The England international, 29, has been on the radar at Ibrox for some time and is believed to be a preferred target of sporting director Ross Wilson.”
The nine-times capped England international hasn’t played as many games as he would have liked in the last couple of seasons, he is vastly experienced but young enough that he could still have his best years ahead of him though.
Butland has been a respected keeper for nearly ten years in England with nearly 250 appearances between the top two leagues and only circumstance has found him sitting on the bench to cover David de Gea for the second half of this season.
The irony is that Sam Johnstone, the former West Brom stopper and Rangers target is the reason why he has had to leave Crystal Palace, the Eagles deciding to sign the younger player at the end of his contract to provide competition expecting Butland to leave last summer.
He is on a short term deal at Old Trafford and will be free to choose his next club when the next transfer window opens, and it’s looking like a straight choice between wages and the warmth of a substitutes bench or the pressure of being number one for one of the biggest clubs on the country.