Dan Bardell has urged Jack Butland to stay at Rangers this summer after an excellent season which could result in further interest from the Premier League.
The Englishman has been one of the best performers under Philippe Clement despite Celtic looking likely to win the Scottish Premiership.
The keeper revealed, via The Sun on 25 February that Nottingham Forest had an approach rejected by him in January. Belgian news outlet DHNet have since claimed that the ex-Manchester United man wishes to return to the English top-flight.
With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell believes he should stay for the benefit of his career.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Bardell said: “Unless Butland is going to go somewhere and be number one, I think he should stay where he is. You’ve rebuilt your reputation and rebuilt your career at Rangers so don’t risk that.
“He’s got lots of football left in him. Rangers are a fantastic club and you’re playing in front of a big vibrant fan base every single week potentially with European football. Don’t go somewhere and be number two and don’t go somewhere you’ll potentially suffer.
“I can’t see a massive opening in the Premier League for him at the moment unless a newly promoted side comes up and decides that they need a goalkeeper with a bit of experience.
“Jack Butland has rebuilt himself at Rangers, so if I was him I wouldn’t be in a rush to move. It has been a good move for him to Rangers. I think give it another year and get your confidence even higher.”
Should Jack Butland leave Rangers?
Butland has been a sensation in between the sticks since joining the Gers on a pre-transfer from Crystal Palace last summer.
The Englishman has kept 18 clean sheets [FotMob] in the Scottish Premiership which is the highest in the division by three.
He is arguably the Light Blues’ most important player and has had a massive impact as they challenged Celtic for the title.
With all that being said, he is certainly going to be linked with a move away from Ibrox across the summer transfer window.
Nottingham Forest approached him in January and this interest is likely to be revitalised in the upcoming window.
His form has certainly afforded him the opportunity to have conversations with teams in other leagues like the Premier League.
Even if this is the case, he is already the undisputed number one for a club the size of Rangers with the chance of playing at least Europa League football.
He could leave in a return to the Premier League but he finally seems to have found a home in Ibrox.
