JACK Butland has stressed that he remains committed to helping Rangers lift more trophies during the remaining three years of his contract and will not be affected by any fresh speculation about his future at Ibrox this summer.
Former England goalkeeper Butland was targeted by Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window as a result of his outstanding performances for the Glasgow club in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign.
The 31-year-old, who is one of four contenders for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award, was content to stay in Govan and does not envisage his personal situation altering in the months ahead even if bids are tabled for him.
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“I signed a four year contract with beliefs of winning things and winning lots of trophies,” he said. “That hasn’t changed in my mind.
“Ultimately, in football when you do perform well there’s always going to be noise and there’s always going to be talk. Where I’m at is that I’m loving my time here and I’m fully focused on achieving here and continuing to do so. That’s all that my mind is set on, that’s Rangers Football Club.
“I’m not blowing smoke up my a***, but I’ve been at top clubs in England before. I’ve been in England squads before. I guess that reputation has always been there.
“But then you have to perform. I feel like I’ve done that and that’s always going to put you in conversations. To generate interest means things are going well and things are going to plan.
Butland spent last season on loan at Manchester United from Crystal Palace – but he did not play a single game for the Old Trafford club and was keen to feature on a weekly basis this term.
He stressed he is enjoying being involved regularly at Rangers at home and abroad in the past nine months and had no concerns whatsoever when the Forest bid was turned down during the January transfer window.
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“My agent notified me of what was coming in,” he said. “He had heard. The club immediately said, ‘No’. He said, ‘How do you feel about that’. It was a ‘no’ from me as well.
“It didn’t change anything from my side of things. Playing football was all I was thinking about, playing football for an incredible club like this. And ultimately I just miss playing football.
“I wanted to perform again and I wanted to show people what I could do. This game it what I love doing. I wanted to play as it is not something I have had the chance to do over the last few years. I guess I am making up for lost time.”
“The England thing, despite being something I have always wanted to do, wasn’t a target of mine. It wasn’t a case of ‘I need to go to Rangers to get back in’. I just wanted to go to Rangers to enjoy what it is and enjoy being a part of it and to play football.”
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