Crystal Palace are keen to sign Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram but are likely to wait until his contract expires next summer, as reported by the Sun (3 January, page 57).
Roy Hodgson’s midfield is perhaps more industrious than inspirational and, in that sense, the potential arrival of Lundstram feels like more of the same.
Then again, with James MacArthur now 33 and near-namesake James McCarthy once again tickling Celtic’s fancy, Palace’s pursuit of a 26-year-old dynamo may prove to be an inspired bit of business.
It is no secret that Lundstram has just six months left on his contract at bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United and, much to Chris Wilder’s chagrin, the former Everton youngster appears reluctant to sign an extension.
“We have offered him a very good contract that is up there with the top players at the club and he has made the decision with his agent that he doesn’t want to sign, and I respect that,” Wilder told Reuters recently.
Wilder added that Sheffield United could cash in during the January window to avoid losing Lundstram for free, with The Athletic suggesting that offers of around £4 million will be considered.
Crystal Palace risk missing out altogether, then, with the Sun suggesting the Londoners will wait until the summer in an attempt to snap up the box-to-box enforcer without spending a penny.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are allegedly interested too and can steal a march on Palace by putting £4 million on the table between now and February 1.
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