Sometimes, there are those transfers that just don’t work out for anybody involved.
Rangers, according to Philippe Clement’s former assistant coach, are crying out for a midfielder with John Lundstram’s ability to pick up the ball from the centre-halves and control proceedings from deep.
Yet to settle in his new Turkish home, meanwhile, Lundstram’s decision to swap Glasgow for the banks of the Black Sea may have backfired somewhat. The former Everton and Sheffield United man has started only one out of a potential four matches in domestic action and those Europa Conference League qualifiers.
And with the man who brought him to Turkey shunted rather unceremoniously out the door, Lundstram may already be fighting for his future as a Trabzonspor player.
Abdullah Avci was fired by president Ertugrul Dogan following a penalty shoot-out defeat to St Gallen. One that meant Trabzonspor will not be taking part in European competition in any guise this term.
The legendary Senol Gunes arrives as Avci’s replacement.
John Lundstram uncertainty just months after Rangers exit
Now 72 years of age, Gunes is a bonafide Trabzonspor legend.
After making over 400 appearances for the club as a player – winning six Super Lig titles along the way – this is now his fourth spell in the dugout.
And Dogan is happy to bow down to any demands Gunes may have about the make up of the squad he inherits from Avci. Meaning that Lundstram, if he is not to the septuagenarian’s liking, could soon be backing his bags only a three months into the three-year contract he signed this summer.
“Our latest transfers were previously agreed upon (with the old manager),” Dogan tells Sporx. “We added young and important players to our squad. I think we will earn money (from them) in the future.
“If our coach makes a request from us, we will take action immediately. We have forwarded the players we have previously scouted to him, and he is currently reviewing them.
“Our coach and Lundstram haven’t even met yet,” the president adds. “However, these players joined upon Abdullah Avci’s request. Each coach has a different way of eating yoghurt.
“If (Gunes) has a request, we will consider it.”
Former Rangers team-mate Borna Barisic joined Lundstram at Trabzonspor. And it’s fair to say the Croatian has made a more positive impression thus far.
The left-back may have been dropped to the bench for the 0-0 draw with Sivasspor last time out but it’s telling that it is Lundstram – of the two ex-Ibrox stalwarts – who’s future appears to have come into question following Gunes’ latest return to his old stomping ground.
Philippe Clement may need a replacement in midfield
The man who led Turkey to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup reportedly has reservations over Lundstram’s agility – or a lack thereof – while feeling that he was a rather superfluous addition for a Trabzonspor already boasting similar midfield talents in their ranks, per the Taka Gazete.
Rangers, meanwhile, may look again at bringing in an experienced, deep-lying playmaker in January having missed out on the likes of Joan Jordan.
Johan van Rumst, who won three Belgian league titles alongside Clement at Club Brugge and KRC Genk, feels that a Lundstram replacement is needed for Rangers to really flow as the manager wants them to.
“We used the same 4-3-3 (formation) in Monaco too. When I watched Rangers last year, John Lundstram was an important player for Philippe,” Van Rumst tells the Daily Record.
“He was always the low midfielder who took the ball off the centre backs, which allowed the full backs to push up. But he’s left, so maybe Philippe is looking for that kind of midfielder again.”
Connor Barron has impressed so far – probably the stand-out amongst Rangers’ new additions – but he is a very different sort of midfielder to Lundstram.
“I’ve seen Connor Barron coming short this season. But he never goes so deep to make it a back three the way Lundstram did.”
