Jack Butland's ambitions aligned with Rangers following talks with hierarchy

Jack Butland is assured that his ambitions are aligned with the direction Rangers are going following talks with the hierarchy.

The goalkeeper was the club’s player of the year last season and there has been some speculation that he could be enticed away during the transfer window.

But he insists he is happy with how things are going and is looking forward to another season in Glasgow with Champions League qualification high on his list of targets.

Rangers host Dynamo Kyiv at Hampden on Tuesday night in the second-leg of the qualifier following last week’s 1-1 draw in Poland.

If they get through that, they will play either FC Twente or RB Salzburg for a place in the revamped group stage of Europe’s premier competition.

Defeat in either tie will see them take a place in the Europa League, a competition they have thrived in in recent seasons, but the 31-year-old former England international is adamant that they are only thinking about taking their place at the top table.

It has been another summer rebuild for Philippe Clement’s side with nine new arrivals being brought in so far and the likes of Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic and John Lundstram exiting.

And Butland, who believes they are in a better place than at this time last season, is encouraged by the performances of the new boys.

He said: “It’s always important during the summer transfer window that players have to make an impact, they’ve got to be the right character, which we have certainly seen so far, some have already made really important contributions and hopefully we continue to see that.

“But as players and staff we are really pleased with how they have settled in and we all know it’s about performing.

“Vaclav (Cerny) has turned up with a brilliant goal at the weekend, Robin (Propper) looks solid and offers something different and other signings are looking to contribute and hopefully that continues.”

Qualification for the Champions League could bring in over £40m to the club, before ticket sales are factored in, meaning the new recruits have had to hit the ground running with such important games coming so early in the season.

But Butland insists that can only be a good thing.

He said: “It’s what you want to be involved in, every game for this club is huge and the expectation is to win, we have ambitions of what we want to achieve, we want to get to the the Champions League playoff round and ultimately into the Champions League.

“You don’t want to be waiting around until March to have big games, you want to have them early and coming back to the new guys it’s good for them to experience it early.

“We are down to business and these games are important and tomorrow is no different.”

Back in January there was interest from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest over taking Butland back down south which was rebuffed by the Ibrox club.

And the former Stoke City and Crystal Palace number one is happy for that to be the case again ahead of the transfer window closing in three weeks time after being assured that the club is heading in the right direction.

He said: “Yeah, I think we have a good relationship, there’s an idea of what we want to achieve and I ultimately want to be successful here.

“We have had conversations about where we want to go and how far we are going and how far we are pushing. Which as any player in the club you want to know the ambition, so for me there is no cloudy areas over that.

“I am looking forward to this season and looking forward to playing as well as I can.

“I’ve had conversations with everybody, you have the opportunity to talk with directors when we are travelling and you always pick their brains and speak to people.

“That’s what this club is all about, we’ve got to be together. It’s a concern of mine, I’m not concerned but it’s good to speak to those people and good to know where the club is at in terms of the direction and optimism as a player it’s certainly things you want to know and be a part of.

“I hope that my opinion are sometimes taken and matters as well, it’s a good relationship and I thoroughly enjoy how things are going.

“European football is huge, I got the first taste of it last season in the Europa League, some great experiences for us, but we want to keep going and keep pushing further.

“The Champions League was the target last year, we then had to refocus, but it’s certainly the target again this year.

“Personally, and I think for the boys in there, some have experienced it before, but for me I would love to experience that and get us in there.

“Tomorrow is so important, we are not comfortable with the Europa League, yes it is a great competition if you are in there and there is a great opportunity to progress and things like that but we want to test ourselves, what the Champions League does for the club for players to experience that and the financial gain for the club it’s an important thing.

“That’s the reality and there is so many pros to qualifying for that and it is certainly our target.”