Rangers 'on the cusp' of latest summer transfer as £6m deal sees one star arrive and ace depart Ibrox
Rangers are closing in on a new goalkeeper that could spell the end of Jack Butland’s time at Ibrox
Rangers look set to sign a new goalkeeper from Premier League new boys Hull City - with current Ibrox No.1 Jack Butland given the green light to head in the opposite direction.
The Light Blues are reportedly locked in talks over a £6m deal for Croatian World Cup shot-stopper Ivor Pandur with Hull Daily Mail claiming the 26-year-old is ‘on the cusp’ of finalising his move north of the border.
New Rangers manager Derek McInnes has been stepping up his summer recruitment drive after snapping up defender Ben Godfrey on loan from Serie A outfit Atalanta earlier today and now progress is being made to bring Pandur to Govan.
Pandur played in all but one EFL Championship game last season, becoming just the fourth keeper in The Tigers’ history to keep clean sheets in both legs of the Championship play-off semi-final and final as Hull clinched promotion back to the English top-flight.
He is expected to agree a long-term contract with Rangers after Hull were forced into selling some of their top assets to ensure they do not breach Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules this summer.
Pandur’s arrival will signal the end of former England international Butland’s time at Ibrox. The 33-year-old, who remains one of the club’s highest earners, will head to the MKM Stadium in a move that will free up wages for McInnes.
Butland will form a new-look goalkeeping department as Hull’s Premier League preparations continue at pace. The sale of Pandur will also bag them a tidy profit on a player they signed for a mere £1.5m when he arrived from Fortuna Sittard in January 2023.
Pandur came through HNK Rijeka’s youth system before moving to Italian side Hellas Verona and then Fortuna Sittard in Germany. His imminent move to Scotland, coupled with Middlesbrough-bound Kyle Joseph’s £5m switch will see City clear their £6m Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deficit and ensure they are not at risk of any punishment.
Rangers have been linked with a number of goalkeeping options in recent months, including Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles.
Butland made 55 appearances across all competitions last term, but is thought to be keen to return to England. He moved to Rangers from Crystal Palace two years ago.