Michael Beale has to make what I would call statement signings for Rangers this summer. Huge changes are afoot at Ibrox.
Off the park it has already started with the likes of Ross Wilson, Stewart Robertson and Craig Mulholland all leaving. Along with a revamp of the playing squad, it all points towards a fresh start – a new dawn at the club. And with almost a blank canvas to work with, it will be Michael’s head on the chopping block when the new season begins.
It will be his team this time, no one else’s. That’s why he needs statement signings. And one of the biggest will be a new goalkeeper. The manager has spoken recently about strengthening the spine of this Rangers team. That starts with your No.1. Think about successful managers of the past. When Graeme Souness revolutionised Scottish football, one of his first acquisitions was Chris Woods – a proven quality goalie down south.
When Walter Smith took over, he went out and signed THE Goalie in Andy Goram. Both of them would go on to become legends.
The same has to happen this summer and Michael has been heavily linked with a move for Crystal Palace’s Jack Butland who is currently out on loan at Manchester United. That’s a move I’d be in favour of. Remember, Butland is a guy who made it into the England squad not so long ago.
You’d be signing an international keeper with Premier League experience at Stoke City and Palace. When Allan McGregor retires – which looks increasingly likely to be at the end of this campaign – Rangers need a high-profile goalie to replace him.
To come after McGregor, you need to have a name, a reputation, a presence. Because make no mistake, when he goes there will be a massive hole to fill in that Ibrox dressing-room.
A big character has to come in and Butland fits the bill. He’s at a good age – he’s 30 years old – and you don’t get nine England caps if you’re not a top player. To compete in that sort of company, you must have real ability.
If you’re Connor Goldson or James Tavernier, who will be at Rangers next season having played in front of McGregor for years, you need someone to come in of similar stature. Butland ticks that box.
Even the fact he’s at Old Trafford just now, that tells me he has the mentality to be at a huge club. He isn’t playing games but he’s David de Gea’s deputy.
United feel comfortable that if anything happens to de Gea, they can trust Butland to step up. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be there.
If he signs for Rangers, he’ll arrive with an attitude and personality that makes him believe he’s more than good enough to play in Scotland. Like every other player who signs for one of the Old Firm, he’ll quickly learn about the unique expectations and demands up here.
Especially next season. Rangers will be under severe pressure after what we expect will be a Treble season for Celtic. There MUST be a response from Michael’s team. And in terms of what he’ll be looking for, Butland would be a good fit.
Look at what Joe Hart has done for Celtic. Joe has a few more titles under his belt but it would be a similar type of signing. When Ange Postecoglou brought him in, Joe was out of the picture at Spurs and not playing games.
He has found a home at Parkhead and been terrific for Celtic. But Butland is a few years younger than Joe, which would be a positive for Rangers.
He’ll be hungry. Being 30 is young for a goalkeeper. He’ll be thinking that if he comes in and performs well for Rangers, maybe at Champions League level, he could still get a move back to the Premier League.
It would be a good fit for Rangers – and it would be a good opportunity for Jack as well. As I say, it would be a statement signing from the club.
And I think Michael has to make at least two in the summer. The goalkeeper is one and a centre-forward has to be another. Those are arguably the two most important bits of business for the Rangers manager.
There has to be evidence – like there is with Butland – that it’s a top-quality player you’re recruiting, not an unknown quantity. Those two have to be the big statement signings this summer.
Of course, the manager will add a lot more than that like a new centre-half and another midfielder. But when you talk about the core of the team, a keeper and striker will be absolutely pivotal for Beale.
With Alfredo Morelos on his way out, Rangers have to find a replacement who will have a similar impact to what Kyogo Furuhashi has had on the other side of the city.
There will be massive change at Ibrox ahead of the new season. But if Michael gets those two priority signings right it could go a long way to determining if his new-look Rangers team will be successful or not.
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