The future of Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram is far from certain, but Rangers are keen on the player and are said to be ‘waiting in the wings’ for his signature.
Into the last few months of his current contract, Lundstram has not signed the upgrade put in front of him by the Blades and it appears there is no intention for the player to change his mind, much to the disappointment of boss Chris Wilder.
Recently, The Athletic reported, “It’s been very frustrating for myself, personally,” the United manager said at the end of October. “We’d been in discussions for quite a number of months regarding him stopping here. We’ve offered him a very, very attractive contract. It’s up there with the top players at the club. He and his agent have made a decision that he doesn’t want to sign it.”
Given their current plight at the bottom of the Premier League table, Sheffield United need all their players to contribute and can’t afford to freeze out a player like Lundstram because of his ability and also for the sake of team morale.
However, there appears to be professional agreement between manager and player that they are getting on with things and making the best of an unwanted situation for the club,
On dropping the player Wilder added, “No, he is in the 25-man squad. We can’t afford to do that.”
“He is still a talented player and his attitude has been decent. Speaking to him over these nine or 10 months, the one thing I’ve said is there is no downside. He understands that and agrees with me, how there is no benefit to not trying to do as well as he possibly can.”
The Sheffield Star have also featured the Lundstram situation this week. They reported that ” (Lundstram’s) name has been again circulated to clubs this window as United look to at least recoup some cash for a player who can walk away for nothing at the end of June.
“There’s been no enquiries for John,” Wilder admitted before the transfer window opened.
“If someone comes in we have to assess that because they will have to come in with a fee and we will have to assess whether it’s worth doing that or not.”
Freedom of contract
This is a now common scenario in the modern game. Clubs stand to lose out on a fee for a player who decides to run down the remainder of their contract in the hope of maximising the next deal from a new club as a free agent.
What stands in Rangers favour is that as a ‘foreign’ club, in another league, Lundstram can sign a pre-contract agreement if he wishes to, now that he is in the last 6 months of his contract.
The current deal “is effectively the one he signed back in 2017 in the Championship, albeit with the customary rises involved with promotion.” stated the Star report.
The Athletic are on record as stating, “Crystal Palace, Burnley and Rangers are all understood to have watched Lundstram over the past 12 months.”
That is the hope for all at Ibrox, that the lure of the heart as well as European football and competing for silverware will sway the player who is 27 next month.
This one is very much live. The player may already know where his future lies but there is no confirmation imminent but all will be revealed soon and Rangers are serious contenders.