Hold up in Rangers talks to strike deal with reported £1.15m per year ex-PL midfielder

According to Philippe Clement, the primary obstacle preventing Rangers and midfielder John Lundstram from reaching an agreement on a new deal is “finances.”

The Rangers manager also brought up remarks made regarding the team’s “crazy” policy of letting contracts expire, asserting that the player is free to negotiate terms with other teams.

Rangers signed John Lundstram on a free contract following the expiration of his deal at Sheffield United back in 2021 and he is now in the final six months of that deal.

The move made Lundstram, now 29, one of the Ibrox club’s top-earners and there has been much debate as to whether or not the some £22k per week, or £1.15m per year, is worth a renewal.

Philippe Clement talks John Lundstram contract

Speaking after the 4-1 Scottish Cup victory away to Dumbarton, Philippe Clement talking after another impressive John Lundstram, who opened the scoring in the match.

Asked if the midfielder was one of the players currently in negotiations over a new contract, the Rangers manager had the following to say.

”Yeah that’s a financial thing between him and the club,” said Clement. “Both parties show interest to do that, that’s clear.

Thus, during the coming weeks and months, we will see. He is in a position where he can sign elsewhere.

It’s obvious that he enjoys his work environment and the club, and everyone has told me that he is performing at a higher level than he did at the start of the season.

If he keeps acting in that way, which is what I hope to see, then I believe the two sides will eventually come to an agreement.

“I talk with my players every day so it’s clear what my mind is about that,” Clement responded when asked if he had told John Lundstram that he wanted him at the Rangers.

Rangers midfielder has made commitment clear

John Lundstram has previously claimed that he’d “love to stay” at Rangers but that “it’s obviously between me and the club to sort something out”.

At his swashbuckling best, John Lundstram is an aggressive ball-winning midfielder who can drive between both boxes and both break up and springboard attacks.

The midfielder has been a near ever-present presence since Philippe Clement came to the club and it’s clear Lundstram is highly valued by the management team.

The onus is then on Rangers to strike a suitable financial deal which both supplements Lundstram’s demands and offers value to the team.

Much of that could depend on the midfielder’s contribution this season, with the lack a Scottish Premiership winner’s medal around Lunny’s neck really the thing which divides fan opinion.

The expenditures of trying to sign a suitable replacement make the issue straightforward for us.

For the remainder of the season, though, John Lundstram must prove his value to the squad; if the high earner is unable to win another league title, supporters may seek elsewhere.

John Lundstram has appeared in 130 games for the Ibrox club overall, including 30 this season.

The goal against RB Leipzig that advanced Rangers to the Europa League Final in Seville stands as Lundstram’s greatest Rangers moment to date.

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