Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland has revealed that he did turn down an approach from Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window.
The Scottish Sun reported last month that the English Premier League club had proposed a “megabucks offer” to sign the 30-year-old but Butland said that both he and his representative agreed it wasn’t the right move:
“It was a straight no. My agent said ‘This is happening, what do you want to do?’ I said ‘No’ and he said ‘I agree’. The club had said no anyway so it was just a no on all fronts from the get-go – and that was that.”
“We were actually with the team, I think it was deadline day. We were all out altogether at a team event and that was that. There wasn’t even a chance. I’m enjoying it. There is too much to achieve, there is too much left to do.”
Butland has been outstanding since arriving at Rangers
Not a great deal was expected when the England international first arrived at Ibrox. After all, he had just been let go on a free transfer by Crystal Palace following a loan spell with Manchester United where he didn’t play a single game.
However, one of the few good decisions that manager Michael Beale made while he was in charge was to bring Butland in. He has kept 22 clean sheets in 42 appearances for the Gers.
He is in line for an England call-up
Butland has not played for his country since 2018 but he could soon return from six-year-long exile from the international setup next month.
England take on Brazil and Belgium in two friendlies at the end of March and there is a good chance that his form could be rewarded with a call-up. Of course, he will need to maintain the excellent standards he has shown to secure his recall.