Jack Butland 'on brink' of Rangers transfer as Michael Beale closes in on Man United loan keeper

Rangers are reportedly on the brink of signing Manchester United loan keeper Jack Butland from Crystal Palace.

Michael Beale is on the lookout for a new No.1 with Allan McGregor out of contract and potentially retiring in the summer. They were linked with Butland a year ago but while a deal didn't come to fruition then, it seems it could well this time around.

The Scottish Sun report that he is "on the brink" of agreeing a deal that would see him handed the No.1 shirt at Ibrox. Capped nine times for England, Butland is currently on loan at Old Trafford serving as David de Gea's number two and was part of the squad that made the FA Cup final. And the 30-year-old could be the answer Beale has been looking for to the goalkeeping situation with Jon McLaughlin and Robby McCrorie the only other established options between the sticks.

Butland was floated as an option by Record Sport columnist Barry Ferguson who told Go Radio: "Top goalkeepers win you games, so it will be interesting to see over the next couple of months what actually happens with Allan McGregor. If Rangers are to sign a new goalkeeper, I remember it would cost a few quid, as good goalkeepers don't come out of contract. There has been one goalkeeper mentioned, Jack Butland, he was a young keeper when I was at Birmingham.

"He is out of contract in the summer and that could be an option in the summer. That might be an option for Rangers going forward."

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