England keeper set for Palace despite pundit talking up Liverpool move

Jack Butland would be a “clever bit of business” for Liverpool, thinks one of their former players – but the goalkeeper seems to be heading to Crystal Palace instead.

Butland enjoyed a promising start to his career after coming through the ranks at Birmingham City. In 2012, he became England’s youngest ever goalkeeper at the age of 19.

Butland earned a Premier League move to Stoke in 2013, but the club suffered relegation at the end of his fifth season there. Since then, his fortunes have worsened.

The 27-year-old made several mistakes last season, susbsequently missing 11 games in the Championship. He has not played for his country since 2018.


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However, it looks like Butland will get a second chance in the top flight. According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace want to sign him before the domestic transfer deadline.

After Wayne Hennessey suffered an injury, Palace are looking for more competition for Vicente Guaita. And boss Roy Hodgson knows Butland well, having given him his England debut.

Palace made contact with Stoke – who are open to offers for Butland – on Thursday night, and have until 5pm on Friday to finalise the deal.

Butland’s contract with Stoke is due to expire next summer.

 

Butland would have been good for Liverpool, claims pundit

A move to Palace will mean no Liverpool switch for Butland, after recent links with a move to Anfield.

Alisson Becker is currently out with injury, and deputy Adrian conceded seven goals in his last game. Hence, there were claims that Liverpool should go into the market for a new keeper.

Nothing happened before the October 5th transfer deadline, but Liverpool could still sign a keeper from an EFL club until October 16th.

Butland was mentioned as a possible solution, and ex-Reds midfielder Danny Murphy thinks such a move would have benefited everyone concerned.

“I like the thought of Jack Butland joining Liverpool,” Murphy told the Football Index Podcast.

“He is trying to find himself again after a really good start to his career when he was being spoken about as potentially England’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“Unfortunately for him, he’s fallen by the wayside a little bit with Stoke being relegated from the Premier League.

“This might be a tremendous opportunity for him to go to a wonderful club, learn from a brilliant goalkeeper, play some games, and start again. That makes sense to me – I think signing Jack Butland would be a clever bit of business.”

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