Birmingham City are set to miss out on primary transfer target Jack Butland, with Rangers set to rebuff any approaches in January, according to Football Insider.
The 30-year-old headed north of the border having departed Premier League outfit Crystal Palace in the summer, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Manchester United. However, he failed to make a single appearance for the Red Devils and secured a move to Ibrox in June.
The goalkeeper has been an ever-present in the Scottish giants’ first team, racking up 16 appearances to date in all competitions – the most he has featured in a single season since the 2019/20 campaign.
It was claimed last week that Wayne Rooney was keen to bring Butland to Birmingham City in January as part of his overhaul of the squad after replacing John Eustace as manager. However, it is believed that Rangers would only be tempted into selling should they receive a big fee, although the former England international is keen to stay put.
According to Football Insider, those reports are wide of the mark and Rangers will not listen to any offers whatsoever. A source close to the publication claims that there is ‘no chance’ of a transfer, with his form to date making him a key member of the squad.
The 2021 Europa League finalists have endured an indifferent start to the season and parted company with manager Michael Beale earlier this month. Philippe Clement was named has his successor last weekend.
Rooney will take charge of his Birmingham team for the first time tomorrow when he faces off against former Manchester United and England teammate Michael Carrick and his in-form Middlesbrough team.
Writer’s View
A move for Jack Butland was always going to be speculative at best, with the shotstopper currently enjoying a new lease of life since his summer move. With European football on offer, a move back to the Championship was never really on the cards, despite the big-name draw of Wayne Rooney.
With that said, there will still be plenty of quality players who will want to be a part of this project, but the former Derby County boss needs to be more sensible in his approach moving forward. He has a good squad of players at his disposal, and an overhaul of the squad could prove to be detrimental.
