View: Rangers need upgrade at key position this summer after unreliable displays

Jack Butland’s performances in the last few weeks suggest Rangers need to source his replacement in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The 33-year-old Butland has been Rangers’ starting goalkeeper ever since he arrived in Glasgow during the summer of 2023.

A former England international and with Premier League pedigree on his CV, he looked to be a significant coup for Gers.

He’s certainly had his fair share of ups and downs at Ibrox over the last three seasons too, as he has the potential to both win and lose Rangers points every week.

But, recent Rangers matches have been a major cause for concern regarding Butland’s viability as the long-term number one.

How poor has Jack Butland been in recent Rangers games?

Butland won Rangers’ Men’s Players’ Player of the Year award at the Club’s recent 2025-26 awards, showing that the experienced goalkeeper has definitely not had a bad season by any stretch of the imagination.

He’s certainly kept Gers in numerous games this term, and has put in some big performances and won Danny Rohl‘s side a host of points.

However, as Rangers’ title challenge has faltered over the last few games, Butland’s performances have also taken a noticeable dip.

As per FotMob, Butland prevented -1.14 goals in the most recent 2-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle, and conceded twice from an expected goals faced of 0.86.

The 3-2 defeat to Motherwell saw him prevent -1.99 goals from an expected goals faced of 1.01, but in fairness to him that game, he didn’t get much help for the goals from his defenders in front.

Against Falkirk, he prevented -0.77 goals in the 6-3 win, with his last game where he recorded a plus figure for goals prevented being the 4-2 victory over Dundee United, where he prevented 0.37 goals.

Butland hasn’t kept a clean sheet in any of his last five appearances though, and has kept just one from his last 11 league outings.

Rangers need better than Butland if they want Premiership title

One of the most fundamental aspects to being a top goalkeeper is the ability to inspire confidence from both your teammates, and the supporters.

However, when it comes to the latter at least, Butland has never really been able to accomplish that with the Ibrox faithful.

When Rangers have needed him most in and around the split, he’s put in his worst run of form of the 2025-26 season, which as a goalkeeper, is never going to end well when it comes to stopping goals from hitting the back of your net.

Indeed, with the pressure now at its greatest, Butland and some of his teammates haven’t been able to rise to it.

So, if Rangers wish to take that next step in the coming years and return to being champions of Scotland once again, they’re surely going to need better than Butland in between the sticks moving forward.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.