Rangers are eyeing up an audacious move for a Premier League regular, but if they want to secure him for free, they'll have to wait another year...
What's the word?
According to The Sun's Alan Nixon, the Scottish giants have an interest in Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram, who appears to be set to stay at Bramall Lane despite entering the final year of his contract.
It means the Gers could swoop in January to tie him up on a pre-contract but they'd undoubtedly face stiff competition given he's been competing in the top-flight successfully for the past season.
Premier League rivals Brighton and West Ham have also been credited with an interest in recent months.
Gers' own Gerrard
The 26-year-old came through the system at Everton, but he grew up as a Liverpool supporter, so a chance to work with the legendary Steven Gerrard may be a deal-clincher.
Lundstram featured 36 times for the Blades last season, scoring five goals from midfield whilst averaging 1.4 tackles, 1.3 shots, 0.6 key passes and 2.5 long balls per game, via WhoScored.
Such performances throughout the campaign have led to high praise indeed - teammate Billy Sharp believes the Englishman is "a real menace to other teams" with current boss Chris Wilder lauding him as a "fantastic example of a professional footballer" despite the ongoing contractual situation.
The Blades midfielder has even been likened to Frank Lampard in the past, one of the greatest box-to-box midfielders the Premier League has ever seen and a talisman in a way.
But so was the Rs boss himself, so perhaps Lundstram could embody what Gerrard was up at Ibrox next season. He provides the perfect balance at either end of the pitch, which makes a move for him make the world of sense.
The £7.2m-rated beast is yet to sign a contract extension and could be available for free in January - if the Gers are prepared to wait - either way, he'd be a major coup whether that's now or in a years' time.
AND in other news, Rangers still interested in £40k-per-week FLOP this summer...