Both Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen knew they would have quite the job in the transfer market when they joined Rangers.
Perhaps a visibly frustrated Philippe Clement wasn’t quite so aware of the medical emergency going on inside the club, but it didn’t take a genius to assess big changes were on the horizon no matter what happened this season.
With £21m spent last summer, and the League Cup the only return on that figure to date, Rangers are facing the prospect of similar or even greater investment if they’re serious about keeping touch with Old Firm rivals Celtic his summer.
Given it will be Rodgers’ Parkhead side, and not Clement’s Rangers team, who earn the automatic £30m+ bonus of Champions League qualification, even that might not be enough.
It’s led to suggestions that Rangers may have to sell before they can buy with Clement for the first time admitting this week that it’s going to be ‘quite a rebuild’ this summer.
And whilst the Rangers manager hasn’t ruled out exits, there are a few names that he is clear cannot be sold no matter the price.
Clement: Butland is indispensable
In comments carried by the Rangers Review heading into the summer, Philippe Clement admits that whilst some may have to be moved on others retain a more significant place in his squad.
Leading this pack is goalkeeper Jack Butland, whose monumental season has prevented Rangers’ drastic Premiership campaign from collapsing into embarrassment.
Doomed Premier League club Nottingham Forest were linked in January and with an England Euro 2024 call-up potentially on the horizon, there are glances up over the border.
Clement is clear that Butland is the prime ‘example’ of someone who quite simply cannot be sold in comments which may well be put to the test should legitimate interest land for the goalkeeper.
When asked if Rangers will have to sell to buy, Clement responded: “That depends. But you can only sell players if you are sure you can get better for a lower price.
“You can then use the extra money that you have for different positions. That can maybe be a decision.
“But there are also a few players I don’t want to let go for any price. Like Jack Butland? That is a good example, yes. I think that’s a very important thing for this club.”
Rangers goalkeeper links instantly quashed
Jack Butland himself has previously intimated his commitment to the cause at Rangers, so the comments will be a positive for Ibrox supporters.
But we’re all long enough in the tooth at this stage to know that whilst both Butland and Clement might see the goalkeeper’s future at Rangers, the decision could be taken out of their hands.
There is a sizeable budget gap to bridge heading into the summer and if an offer of £15m or above lands for Butland, Rangers will have to take it seriously.
Interestingly, the comments of Philippe Clement also appear to quash reports that Rangers are closing in on an alternative goalkeeper from Belgium.
Reports in April had raised Jack Butland exit fears by claiming that Rangers were leading the pack to sign £3.4m-rated Standard Liege goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart.
With Clement clear the club’s transfer budget will be stretched to its limit in the coming months, it does not make sense to invest in a goalkeeper so long as Jack Butland and the other options are at the club.
With Robby McCrorie about to enter the final year of his contract he is certainly capable back-up to Jack Butland.
Jon McLaughlin is one of six out of contract players expected to leave the club this summer, whilst academy stopper Kieran Wright is back from a short-term loan to Livingston.
With that in mind, let’s file those Bodart reports under inconclusive as everyone at Ibrox looks forward to a big summer.
Let’s hope Jack Butland is still around to see how it winds up come the first whistle next season.
