Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Rangers - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - April 8, 2023 Rangers manager Michael Beale before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
After a couple of feel-good weeks it seems that Jack Butland is out of reach for Micky Beale’s summer Revolution.
Comparisons with Joe Hart and reminders of his England caps masked the reality of a highly paid goalkeeper becoming a free agent and looking for a deal close to his current terms.
At the age of 30 being part of an exciting project under a rookie boss holds less appeal that maintaining EPL style wages with Butland quietly being downgraded for a 23-year-old playing for Dutch minnows Fortuna Sittard.
The Daily Mail reports:
For Rangers boss Michael Beale this summer the bare necessity is to strengthen his defence. So club scouts checked on Fortuna Sittard goalkeeper Ivor Pandur against PSV Eindhoven on Sunday.
The Croatia U21 international is on loan from Hellas Verona and is under consideration as Rangers look to add a new keeper. The 23-year-old had a busy afternoon but was unable to keep PSV at bay as they ran out 2-1 winners.
Rangers, who last week agreed a four-year deal with Chelsea right-back Dujon Sterling and want Arsenal centre back Auston Trusty, have maintained contact over Crystal Palace keeper Jack Butland also but that deal, so far, remains too expensive.
With Pandur under contract until June 2025 a transfer fee might be outwith Beale’s budget with the likelihood being that Jon McLaughlin will start next season as back-up to Robbie McCrorie.
Will Plan B with Beale be doing a remix of “Rakin’ The Dead” as a tribute to both Sevco and the MSM using the term Old Firm at every given opportunity?
I fink Beale has the right speil for the lead vocals on that track.
Oh dear too bad so sad