Rangers fans will be absolutely thrilled to hear goalkeeping star Jack Butland has committed himself to Rangers for the foreseeable future, after dismissing the move to Nottingham Forest out of hand.
The number one at Ibrox, in stellar form and arguably ex-manager Michael Beale’s finest capture, spoke for the first time about Ross Wilson and Forest’s interest in him, but revealed not only was it a straight-out no, but that he plans to remain at Ibrox for a fair old time yet.
He said:
“It was a straight no. My agent said ‘This is happening, what do you want to do?’ I said ‘No’ and he said ‘I agree’. The club had said no anyway so it was just a no on all fronts from the get-go – and that was that. We were actually with the team, I think it was deadline day. We were all out altogether at a team event and that was that. There wasn’t even a chance. I’m enjoying it. There is too much to achieve, there is too much left to do.”
Too much left to do. Too much to achieve, and he’s enjoying life at Rangers.
This is a massive middle finger up to the Premier League, to Forest, and to the idea of moving any time soon.
Butland’s stock is sky high, and he’s now close to an England recall (more on that later) and the idea of moving to a team struggling with FFP, points deductions, and not a lot going for them these days (they’re barely above the relegation zone) really didn’t appeal to him.
But more tellingly, he’s confirmed he wants to win things at Rangers first.
See, he’s already got a League Cup trophy, his first ever silverware at 30, and the idea that he’s still got tonnes to do at Rangers is a massive statement of intent that he may in fact be quite happy to remain in Govan beyond the summer.
His contract of course is till 2027 but with his stock as high as it is, there will be interest this summer and he knows it.
But as long as Butland does get his England call, and we think he will, and gets his slot at the Euros, we wouldn’t now be surprised if we go into next season with him still between the sticks.
He’s loving life at Rangers, why uproot that for the Premier League which effectively spat him out in the first place?
Their loss is Rangers’ gain.