Jack Butland stance on Birmingham City transfer as more competition emerges

Former Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland would reportedly not be keen on a return to his first club this summer amid uncertainty over his future.

The 29-year-old looks set to move away from Premier League side Crystal Palace this summer, with Sam Johnstone’s arrival at the club pushing him down the pecking order. It is said that he will be allowed out on loan, with a number of clubs said to be interested.

Blues are said to have made an enquiry for the academy graduate, who left the club as a 19-year-old in 2013. Birmingham are however not alone in their interest with newly-promoted Bournemouth and Scottish giants Rangers also said to be keeping an eye on the goalkeeper’s situation.

According to the Sun’s Alan Nixon , Birmingham’s Championship rivals Middlesbrough have now joined the race having added Butland to their transfer wishlist. The report adds that after the Blues enquiry, Butland was ‘not keen’ on returning to St Andrew’s this summer, putting them at a disadvantage in the transfer race.

It is said that Middlesbrough ‘could appeal’ to the player with manager Chris Wilder looking to sell the project to Butland. Boro are on the lookout of a new number one in 2022/23 with Butland identified as one of the targets.

The goalkeeper played a total of 46 times for Blues in the 2012/2013 season, completing a permanent move to Stoke City halfway through the campaign before returning on loan. He stayed at the Bet365 Stadium for a total of seven years before joining Crystal Palace just under two years ago.