Ivor Pandur is on the cusp of joining Rangers in a deal that will see Jack Butland head in the opposite direction to Hull City as the Tigers’ Premier League preparations continue at pace.
Pandur, who is away on international duty at the World Cup with Croatia, is expected to agree a long-term contract at Ibrox, with former England stopper Butland coming to the MKM Stadium to join a new-look goalkeeping department ahead of the new season.
Rangers are believed to be paying around £6m for Pandur, with the Premier League newbies set to make a tidy profit on a player they signed for £1.5m when he arrived from Fortuna Sittard in January 2023.
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The Croatian gloveman played all but one Championship game last season, and became just the fourth goalkeeper in history to keep clean sheets in both legs of the Championship play-off semi-final and final as City surged to a sensational promotion back to the Premier League.
City have been forced into player sales despite promotion to the top flight, to ensure they do not breach Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
Pandur’s expected move north of the border, coupled with Kyle Joseph’s imminent £5m move to Middlesbrough, will see City clear their £6m Profit and Sustainability (PSR) deficit and ensure they are not at risk of any punishment, in news that will leave fans feeling relieved, if not a little sad to see two key promotion-winners depart.
Other fringe players are expected to leave over the next few weeks, but the necessity to get those completed has now eased with City securing a healthy profit on two players that played their part in their meteoric rise to the Premier League, and helping their financial situation with PSR.
Butland, 33, played 55 times in league, cup and Europe for Rangers last season, and is thought to be keen to return to England and play in the Premier League with City. In a long career, Butland has played 87 times in the top flight with Stoke City and Crystal Palace.
The experienced stopper has had loan spells at Manchester United, Birmingham City, Barnsley and Derby County in a career that has seen him play 450 times.
An England international, Butland became the Three Lions’ youngest-ever goalkeeper when he made his debut at the age of 19 against Italy, a game they won 2-1.
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