Rangers: Sky Sports pundit issues ‘enormous’ John Lundstram contract verdict amid Ibrox talks
It is “crucial” that Rangers find a way to sort out a contract extension for John Lundstram so Philippe Clement can build around one of his best players, says Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit said in his Scottish Sun column on 8 March that the English midfielder has an “enormous influence” on the Belgian’s set up and forms an important duo with January signing Mohamed Diomande.
The former Sheffield United player’s Ibrox deal is currently expiring in the summer, but having excelled since Clement’s arrival Boyd believes he is “one of the best” in the squad and has to stay.
Boyd wrote: “Rangers next season? Well, keeping hold of John Lundstram beyond the summer will be crucial. They need to find a way to tie him down on a new contract.
“He complements Diomande well, and wields such an enormous influence on the way Clement wants the team to play.
“For the Belgian to build again next term he’ll want his best players around him, and Lundstram has been one of the best.”
Philippe Clement will need vital Rangers midfielder to stay
Jose Cifuentes is gone already, Ryan Jack may well follow when his own deal expires, and Nico Raskin is going through a major dip in form.
So while there are currently numbers in the Ibrox midfield that could be deceptive and losing Lundstram would be a blow.
Dujon Sterling’s emergence and Diomande’s strong start to life in Glasgow mean Clement wouldn’t be left too short, but with Lundstram, 30, staring virtually every game for the Gers boss it is clear how important the Merseysider is to him.
The wage bill will need to make sense but since the Englishman has made clear that he would “love” to stay [Rangers Review, 3 January] it would appear a deal shouldn’t be too complicated, with the manager also expressing his hope it can be done while revealing talks were ongoing [Daily Record, 20 January].
That the discussions have already gone on for some weeks without reaching a conclusion might be cause for slight concern, and while potential new midfield signings have already started to be linked ahead of the summer the first priority will need to be avoiding unwanted exits.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are in the hunt to sign a new defender whose contract could make him a bargain.
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