Jack Butland admits it is HUGE to feel wanted again as he begins life at Rangers.
The former Crystal Palace and Manchester United goalkeeper has been snapped up by the Light Blues as he starts a new chapter in his career. Allan McGregor has left the Ibrox side with Jon McLaughlin expected to follow. Robby McCrorie - who impressed in his run of games last term - will compete with the England cap for the No1 jersey.
The 30-year-old has opened up on how Michael Beale made the trip to Manchester months before agreeing his deal to give him an insight into the Ibrox club and outline his ideas and plans. It was an easy decision for the keeper who is 'really excited' about the challenge.
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He is one of five current new faces to sign on the dotted line in Govan this summer alongside Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Abdallah Sima and Sam Lammers. Cyriel Dessers is expected to follow imminently to take the summer recruitment drive to six. More new names will follow with Beale looking to add another 'two of three' while fringe players will head out the other way as preparations for the big kick-off begin.
Rangers are back in pre-season training ahead of the season opener at Kilmarnock and the Champions League qualifying process as they bid to dine at Europe's top table once again.
Butland was linked with Rangers last summer, but the move has now happened as he opened up on the switch. He said: “I met the manager a few months prior. He came down to Manchester to see me and that was really good too.
“It gave me some insight into the club, as much as you can give in a meeting room I suppose.But he explained his ideas and he outlined his plans.
“I didn’t need to do a lot of research so it made the decision really easy for me. Listen, it’s a great feeling to be wanted. It was huge for me. I hadn’t felt that, to that point, for a while.
“I’ve been working hard to get back to that point because it doesn’t just come around. I know the guys here did their research too in talking to guys at Palace and United.
“They wanted to see where I was at and all of it led to where we are now. I’m really excited about the challenge. It wasn’t that close before.
“There was also something contractually that I wasn’t free enough to make something happen.
“I was set up at Palace. Coming to the end of my contract there was a potential option, but that didn’t come about. I went out on loan and it made it a lot simpler for this to happen now.”
