Rangers have confirmed the loan exit of teenage goalkeeper Jacob Pazikas to join Stranraer my this summer.
The club’s Rangers B & Academy confirmed via Twitter on 21 June that the 19-year-old has joined the Scottish club for the next campaign.
In his 23 appearances last season, Pazikas maintained seven clean sheets while on loan with the Civil Service Strollers of the Lowland League.
He has yet to make a senior appearance for the Light Blues. With Jon McLaughlin’s confirmed departure and Robby McCrorie’s anticipated departure after declining an Ibrox contract extension, his departure prevents him from making the move up to the first team [Daily Record, 4 June].
Robby McCrorie and Jack Butland could leave Rangers this summer
In and of itself, Pazikas’ loan is not particularly surprising, but it should be understood in the context of a transfer window that has already seen one custodian permanently move for McLaughlin and may see three more leave in one way or another before the summer is up.
McCrorie is 26 and has spent his whole senior career as a Light Blues player but has only made seven first-team appearances amid many loans so definitely has to move on if he isn’t going to be Philippe Clement’s number one.
While star man Jack Butland is still in Glasgow there is only going to be one man at the top of the pecking order, but there has long been speculation that big-money transfer offers could come in for the former Crystal Palace man.
Clement will hope that things continue as they are for the time being, as there does not seem to be a market for him to return to the Premier League [Alan Nixon, May 28].
Liam Kelly, who left Motherwell [Sky Sports, June 18], is anticipated to return to Ibrox as the starting backup; however, it is unclear who will fill the third position.
Despite being 25 years old and having made no appearances for the club, Kieran Wright is considered the next most likely candidate and is expected to depart on his own [Rangers Review, June 5].
Though it seems unlikely that Pazikas will be promoted from the academy, Clement and Nils Koppen will likely promote someone else in addition to Kelly, a custodian.
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