Philippe Clement has been outspoken about the state of Rangers’ player contracts.
For the second season on the bounce, Rangers have lost a series of previously crucial first-team players at the end of their Ibrox deals.
Keeping in mind an out-of-contract Connor Goldson signing a new deal the season previously, it’s a scenario we have not learnt from for the last three campaigns in a row.
It’s something which has irked the Belgian in recent weeks.
Last year the monumental experience of Allan McGregor and Scott Arfield walked, whilst Rangers lost one-time major assets Filip Helander, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent for nothing.
Five others have just joined them; Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin have also at various stages been viewed as crucial players for the team.
But it’s the exit of one these footballers in particular – Clement’s high-profile public pursuit of the player officially ending in tears – that has produced the most uncertainty ahead of a busy window.
Clement loses public Lundstram pursuit
Leon Balogun is actually the only of Rangers’ out-of-contract players who has been awarded a new contract.
The Nigerian international – who will turn 36 at Ibrox – has done enough both on and off the park to convince Clement of his usefulness.
But only a matter of weeks ago, if only one Rangers star was going to be offered a new deal, it looked like it was going to be John Lundstram.
Clement went as far as to say that he ‘expected’ Lundstram to sign a new deal such was his importance to the team.
“I know both sides love each other so I expect a solution at the end,” Clement told a Scottish Sun reporter back in mid-April.
“With John, I don’t have many hairs on my head, but there are none that has a doubt about his commitment. He loves this club. He is full of passion for this club about everything.”
So what happened?
Well, the links to Turkey appeared, Clement suggested the club and player were too far apart on wages, and Lundstram’s form capitulated as the distraction of the summer intensified.
It’s a blow because now Philippe Clement has to adjust his plans and replace Lundstram’s 53 appearances from midfield, something he never expected to have to do only six weeks ago.
Rangers must replace Turkey-bound leader
Following his exit from Ibrox, journalist Alan Nixon has been providing an update on the situation with John Lundstram.
Confirming that the player is heading to Turkey, reports have suggested Lundstram will be teaming up with Borna Barisic at Turkish club Trabzonspor next season.
Nixon also appears to shut down any late suggestion Lundstram could return south of the border.
Whilst there were some big moments for Lundstram at Ibrox, there were also a series of high-profile disappointments.
Also part of the club’s leadership group, it’s a bit of a brutal end for a player who has etched himself into Ibrox folklore.
From the peaks of the Europa League semi-final goal v RB Leipzig to the lows of the own-goal red-card collapse at Celtic Park a couple of weeks ago, mixed is a fair assessment.
After three years marshalling the Rangers midfielder to mixed results, Lunny moves out of the Glasgow pressure cooker and into a new environment on the edge of Europe.
Whilst we wish him all the best, attentions quickly turn to who Philippe Clement has in mind to replace not only Lundstram’s significant playing minutes at Ibrox.
But the midfielder’s influence in the dressing room too.
