SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 18: John Lundstram of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Fulham at Bramall Lane on October 18, 2020 in Sheffield, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
According to Glasgow Live, Rangers target John Lundstram could be heading for a January exit instead of summer.
The Sheffield United man has refused to sign a new deal with the club and with his contract expiring at the end of this season, the Blades might just have to let him leave in January to get some compensation. This has given Rangers some hope of completing a transfer for the player in January itself.
The 26-year-old midfielder earned his first senior professional contract at Everton in 2012. However, in his 3 years with the Toffees, the English midfielder made no appearances for them as he was loaned out on five occasions until his permanent move to fourth-division side Oxford United in 2015.
He spent two productive years with Oxford where he was made the club captain at just 22 years of age. In 2017, the Liverpool-born midfielder joined newly-promoted Championship side Sheffield United. Lundstram has impressed for the Blades since he joined them 3 years ago, having made 99 appearances, scoring and assisting 8 goals each.
The midfielder especially made a name for himself after an impressive 2019/20 season in the Premier League, which was Sheffield’s first season in the top-flight in 12 years. He inspired the team to a 9th-place finish in a season where the Blades were tipped to be relegated. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Rangers are currently pretty well stocked in the central midfield department. They roped in South African international Bongani Zungu on a season-long loan deal from Amiens.
The Gers have the option to sign Zungu permanently in the summer, but they should keep a close eye on Lundstram’s future at Bramall Lane. The midfielder will be available to discuss terms of a free transfer in January if he doesn’t put pen to paper on a new deal over the next couple of weeks.
It should be a no-brainer for Rangers to try and capitalise on such a glorious market opportunity during the mid-season trading period. Lundstram’s wealth of experience across various divisions in England, as well as in the Premier League, makes him an upgrade on Zungu and a long-term successor to the ageing Steven Davis.
Rangers might have enough quality in their midfield but a player of John Lundstram’s calibre can still walk into their starting XI. The former Everton man still has several years remaining in his prime and would be an ideal option to compete with the likes of Joe Aribo, Scott Arfield, Glen Kamara, and Ryan Jack moving forward.