Rangers star targeted by English Premier League club amid Euro interest as Philippe Clement faces battle to keep key man
IPSWICH TOWN are ready to make a late move for Rangers ace John Lundstram — hoping a switch to Turkiye falls down.
The midfielder is in talks with Trabzonspor about a move to the Super Lig when his Ibrox deal runs out in the summer.
John Lundstram is out of contract this summer[/caption] Ipswich secured promotion back to the English top flight for the first time in 22 years this weekend[/caption] Former Ger George Edmundson is part of the Tractor Boys team[/caption]But Ipswich could now offer Lundstram, who played for Sheffield United in the English top flight, a Premier League return.
Boss Philippe Clement is eager to keep the 30-year-old on a new deal, but his hopes of retaining the star now look to be fading.
Trabzonspor have been linked with a double raid for Lundstram and out-of-contract Croatia left-back Borna Barisic.
Gers lost Ryan Kent to Fenerbahce last summer and former Ibrox stars Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Allan McGregor have all been lured to Turkiye in the past.
But Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys, who won promotion back to the Premier League after 22 years, want to add experience for next season and Lundstram’s been a long-term target.
The Liverpool-born midfielder has been a virtual ever-present under Clement, having enjoyed success under previous bosses.
He scored against RB Leipzig in the 2022 Europa League semi-final, and has won both domestic cups since signing a three-year deal in July 2021.
He could be added to a side that includes ex-Ger George Edmundson and who will re-enter the big time next season.
Ipswich are also interested in Coventry midfielder Ben Sheaf, who is a wanted man after missing out on promotion.
The Tractor Boys have not been in the Premier League since the 2001/02 season.
They booked their place in the top-flight with 2-0 win over Huddersfield on the final day of the Championship season.
Led by former Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna, he has fired them to back-to-back promotions.
When Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former assistant took over at Portman Road in December 2021, they were 12th in the third tier.
But in a remarkable rise, McKenna has guided them to a second place finish in League One last season.
And he has now followed it up with a successive runners-up promotion from the Championship.
They are first so jump from League One to the Prem in two years since Southampton in 2012.
The 37-year-old boss’ sensational work is highlighted by nine of his starting XI today playing in the division below last term.
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