This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
With Joe Lumley now out on loan at Reading, Middlesbrough are looking for a new goalkeeper.
One name that has been linked with a move to the Riverside Stadium in recent days is Crystal Palace keeper Jack Butland.
As per Alan Nixon via Patreon, Butland is now on the shortlist of names Boro are considering bringing into the club this summer.
Butland is allowed to leave Palace on loan with Sam Johnstone reportedly incoming.
With that being said, we asked three of our writers at FLW for their thoughts on a potential Butland move to Teesside and whether or not it would be a good signing for the club.
George Dagless
I think it could be.
Butland is a very good goalkeeper but obviously his confidence and form has been a little bit up and down in recent years.
Even so, there is no doubting the ability that he does have and I would expect him to do well for Boro if he joined, with Chris Wilder instilling real belief in him.
There's obviously an opening for a new goalkeeper on Teesside after Joe Lumley's move to Reading and I think Butland is actually one of the better options Boro could get, providing that he does find form and underline his class there.
Alfie Burns
It’s obvious that Middlesbrough need to recruit a goalkeeper and the surprise is that it’s taken Chris Wilder until his second transfer window to get serious about getting someone in.
Jack Butland would be a serious statement from Boro, too.
There’s no denying that Butland’s career hasn’t quite gone the way we expected when he was younger, yet for a Championship club chasing promotion, is he good enough? Absolutely.
You feel that it’s a doable deal for Boro as well.
They are an attractive proposition under Wilder and can promise football at the sharp end of the division. Surely Butland would want to be a part of that.
His arrival would be a coup and just what the club need.
Charlie Gregory
Middlesbrough certainly do need a goalkeeper this summer and they could do a lot worse than Jack Butland.
Considering where he has played so far, he has the experience to fall back on as a first-team stopper in the Championship. Given regular football too, there is no reason why he couldn’t be solid inbetween the sticks.
This one does tick a lot of boxes then. He would fill a position of need for the club and wouldn’t be an average player either - he can be superb on his day.
Considering the likely fee too, it could be a real steal for Boro.