Selling Butland would be Brum deal for Rangers
Philippe Clement has dismissed news of Birmingham City interest in Jack Butland, describing the keeper as integral to his plans for Rangers.
Butland started his career with the West Midlands club back in 2012-13 and is a current transfer target for Wayne Rooney, a former England team-mate.
That, though, is of little concern to the new Ibrox boss who has inherited Butland on a four-year deal and is delighted with the keeper, likening him to former Belgium and Liverpool star, Simon Mignolet.
“For sure I am really happy with Jack,” he said.
“Not only on the pitch with his performances, but also outside the pitch and in the dressing room. In the way he works, the way he acts and his personality.
“Heisgoingtobeone of the key figures to build a team around for the next couple of years.
“For me, there are a lot of comparisons between Jack and (Simon) Mignolet. They are both calm and have a lot of confidence.
“They are also there in the big moments and for me, that is important.
“To have a really great team, you need to find figures that are there in the difficult moments.
“That is very important when you are creating a winning team. You need these personalities.”
Clement insists a team cannot be successful with a poor goalkeeper.
“That is very clear to me. It is the same for every manager,” he said.
“Of course, you must keep clean sheets. That is not down to the goalkeeper or defence, it is the whole team working together.
“But to have real success and to win trophies, you need to have somebody who gives the team a life in the difficult moments.
“Jack did that in the first half in Prague and he will do it again in the future.
“He will also make mistakes – that is part of being a goalkeeper. But what I like most about him is his personality. He is a winner.
“Jack has a strong mindset and I like to have these characters in my dressing-room.”