Battle for Butland

After a game that showcased all that was great about the Championship on Monday night (lots of goals, inconsistent defending, poor keeping and a 6ft 7 giant striker that can’t head the ball) it was always going to happen that the news the next day wasn’t going to be about the match between Birmingham and West Ham but the possible asset stripping of the Midlands club.

The Blues ownership and financial problems are well documented, resulting in some 25 transfer ins and outs under Chris Hughton this season and one of their bright young stars is being tipped to leave the club this summer with a host of top-flight suitors, reports the Daily Mirror.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland, who is on loan at Cheltenham Town currently for his second spell at the club this year, has attracted interest from both Arsenal and Manchester United this season according to the Mirror.

The youngster has represented England at every age group up to the u21s and made 22 appearances on loan at the Robins but has yet to make a start for his parent club. Teammates at Cheltenham have raved about the youngster with Steve Elliot suggesting he has “everything he needs to play at the very top level” and that “[his] head is screwed on, he knows what he wants and what he has to do to get there.”

Probably not on the recommendation of Elliot but from their own respective scouting networks, United and Arsenal have been alerted to the goalkeeper’s progress and may be set to duke it out transfer style the summer.

The Mirror concludes that the; “cash-strapped Blues are expecting serious interest in the summer and are prepared to sell Butland if they receive a suitable offer.”

Dan Whiteway

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Comments

[oldbluenose]

Whoever is the author of this piece quite obviously is an idiot. To jump on the Peter Crouch bandwagon saying that Zigic can't head the ball is pathetic at best. Please see the highlights of the Leeds v Birmingham match. It is true that for a tall man Zigic is very good on the floor, his first touch is quite often exceptional, but to say he can't head the ball is someone who hasn't watched him often and believes he can make a statement without checking his facts. Also I think that Butland is a young man with his head screwed on. Why would he want to leave Birmingham at the moment. He hasn't yet reached the blues first team, although he may next season. Joining one of the top teams would mean years doing a Ben Foster on someones bench. He isn't likely to replace De Gea yet. Also look at how much United paid for De Gea. The £3 million prize tag mentioned is way too low. In two years time he could be worth £10 million. So please write FACTS and stop this stupid rumour mongering.