“Unfathomable” – Keown slams Clement for comments on selling Rangers’ star player.

Former Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland attracted significant transfer interest last summer, with Crystal Palace submitting a £5million bid that was ultimately rejected, keeping him at Ibrox.

However, Butland is now under scrutiny after being blamed for both goals conceded in Rangers’ recent Europa League defeat to Manchester United.

This has led to criticism of manager Philippe Clement’s decision to retain him.

Writing in the Scottish Mail on Sunday (26 January, page 94), Keown said: “Manager Philippe Clement has made so many baffling remarks during his time at Rangers that it’s hard to keep track.

But one particularly puzzling statement was his summer claim that everyone was up for sale except Butland, who was deemed untouchable.”

While Butland’s performances have dipped compared to his heroic 2023/24 campaign, he still made several key saves against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Mistakes are unavoidable in football, but errors from goalkeepers often result in goals, making them more glaring than those of outfield players.

Clement does have other options, such as Liam Kelly, but considering Butland’s proven track record since his free transfer to Ibrox in 2023, labeling his retention a mistake seems harsh.

The 31-year-old was instrumental in Rangers’ impressive Europa League run last season, played a pivotal role in their Scottish League Cup victory in 2023, and nearly helped secure the Scottish Premiership title.

Although selling Butland in the summer might have eased Rangers’ financial concerns, it could have alienated fans.

His departure would have likely been met with frustration given his contributions to the team’s success.

Ultimately, decisions like these place the Ibrox boardroom in a no-win situation, as balancing financial pressures with on-pitch ambitions is a delicate task.