Rangers boss Michael Beale outlines John Lundstram contract desire
Rangers boss Michael Beale has expressed his desire for midfielder John Lundstram to sign a new deal at the Ibrox Stadium, saying he’s an “important player” for him to build around.
The 28-year-old has become a pivotal figure in the Gers dressing room ever since his move from Sheffield United in 2021, especially in their historic run to the Europa League final last season, and featuring in all of Rangers’ 20 league games so far this campaign scoring five goals.
The Liverpool-born midfielder’s current contract expires at the end of next season in 2024, having only signed a three-year deal upon his free transfer move to Scotland.
Ever since Beale’s appointment at the Ibrox, Lundstram has continued to form a vital part of the former Queens Park Rangers manager’s new setup, following Giovanni Van Bronckhurst’s sacking.
And speaking [via Glasgow Evening Times, 8 January] ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership fixture away to Dundee United, Beale reiterated his desire to keep Lundstram and that he’s a player who he can build around moving forward.
Asked about a new contract for the midfielder, Beale replied: “Yeah, definitely. John knows what I think of him and we are both on completely the same page.
“He was one of the first players I talked to when I came back to Rangers. I didn’t communicate with him much before the Scouse mafia was here – they used to speak their own language.
“Steven and John had a good relationship with him, I was more of a coach. But when I came back in, he was someone I wanted to sit down with straight away and explain how important I thought he was.”
Also asked about the player’s career and what he can offer, Beale spoke in glowing terms. He said: “He’s in the prime of his career and is a really important player for me building forward. John isn’t just a good player, he has the personality as well.
“In the second half against Celtic last week, he started winning all of the duels. He was athletic around the pitch, he started tagging people and making passes. When we lost him in the game to injury – we lost a lot.”
A Must Keep
Ever since Lundstram’s move to Rangers in 2021, the 28-year-old midfielder has become an instant fan favourite.
His leadership, energy and dynamism from midfield proved crucial to the club’s tremendous run to the Europa League finals last season, and he’s continued that vein of form into this season, forming the base of what Beale is trying to build at the Ibrox.
The former Sheffield United man has been incredibly reliable, setting and maintaining high standards on and off the pitch, but more importantly, he rarely gets injured.
He’s featured in all of Rangers’ league games this season, going on to register five goals and there will be more where that came from too.
With Beale aiming to topple Celtic in the near future, he will certainly need all the experience and calm heads around him to achieve just that, and Lundstram is an incredibly vital part of that.
He is without a doubt, a must-keep at the Ibrox stadium.
In other Rangers news, pundit urges the Gers to sign this Championship striker who used to play for Michael Beale.