It was reported last week that Jack Butland had turned down his big Manchester United pay day in favour of first-team football at Rangers and Alfredo Morelos could be set for a move to the Turkish Süper Lig. The Jack Butland rumours started around a month ago and with Manchester United’s season almost over, the move looks to be moving ever closer. Morelos has been linked to Turkish football before and it’s a move many fans predicted on social media. It’s a move that will no doubt fetch him a big pay day and a chance to remain as a clubs number one option up top.
Jack Butland
The Daily Mail are reporting this morning that the former England international held talks with Rangers on Tuesday evening. His wage demands were thought to have been a stumbling block to this move being completed. It now seems, as previous reports suggested, that he has lowered those demands and is, instead, focused on getting more first-team opportunities.
Due to the potential outlay of his contract and the profile he’s arriving with, there’s no doubting that he will be Rangers first-choice next season should he arrive. He has plenty of EPL and international experience and was once regarded as one of the top young goalkeepers in Europe.
First team chances have been hard to come by for him in recent years as he’s fallen out of favour at Crystal Palace and was loaned to Manchester United to be a back-up. This move could spark a real career revival for the 30-year-old as he looks to get back on track with the hopes of being an England international once again.
That may not happen while he plays for Rangers but at least he will get a chance to remind everyone what he can do. Rangers are guaranteed European group stage football next season and this would give him the chance to prove himself on the big stage again.
Upon the announced exit of legendary goalkeeper Allan McGregor, Michael Beale made it clear the club would be looking at potentially bringing in a goalkeeper. There won’t be much better value for money deals out there than a free agent, with EPL and international experience who is still only 30.
If Butland can find the form that gained him international recognition then this will be an incredible deal for Rangers. A couple of weeks ago, Angela Smith of BBC Stoke spoke to Derek Clark at the Rangers Review. She spoke of the excellent physical condition Butland kept himself in and his excellent communication within the box and with his defenders. This will be encouraging news for fans as a huge part of Allan McGregor’s game was his ability to communicate, so it’s pleasing to hear that won’t be lost if the Englishmen comes in.
It’ll be a busy week for him with the FA Cup Final coming up on Saturday, he’s not expected to play but will definitely still be involved in the squad. That suggests this deal is unlikely to be confirmed before next week, but all signs suggest it’s heading in the right direction and he’ll be arriving at Ibrox sooner, rather than later.
Alfredo Morelos
According to reports in Takvim, Galatasary officials have contacted the Colombian’s agent in a bid to try and sort out a deal. Reports also suggest there’s interest from Besiktas and Fenerbahce but Galatasary currently sit at the top of the league so may be in the driving seat. This isn’t the first time there’s been reported interest from Turkey in the 26-year-old but this time it’s different as his contract is up and he needs a new club.
This is a contract situation the club have handled terribly and now are set to lose a player they rejected an apparent £16m bid from Lille a couple of years ago. Hopefully with new leadership at the club, at all levels, this is the type of situation that won’t happen again.
This could be a good move for Morelos, as if he provides what he did at Rangers, he will be loved over there and he’s likely getting a nice bump up in wages. It’s sure to be an interesting summer for him but with his exit being confirmed it’s unlikely most Rangers fans care a great deal about where he goes. The majority of fans have wished him well on his departure and will want him to succeed wherever he goes, but with the excitement of transfer coming into the club, this is news which may well slip under the radar.