Rangers have postponed contract talks with John Lundstram and Borna Barisic until the end of the season, Philippe Clement has confirmed.

The manager has confirmed previously that the club were in talks to renew both players’ contracts, with their current deals at Ibrox due to expire at the end of the season.

Reports suggest both players have agreed pre-contracts with Turkish club Trabzonspor to move next season and when asked by Sky Sports (3 May) about the news, the boss refused to confirm or deny anything but admitted talks have now been shelved until the end of the current campaign.

“It’s simple, there’s nothing official,” he said. “So I see these guys every day in training.

“In the dressing room, in training, after training, in the individual talks, they’re totally committed to this club.

“The water is too deep for the moment to sign a contract here. So we postpone it now also until the end of the season because we have now four games in two-and-a-half weeks, so not much time to think, to talk, to discuss.

“It’s totally focused on football and they will give their total best for the club.”

Writing on the wall for Rangers future with Lundstram and Barisic

It’s more than notable how the confidence has disappeared from Philippe Clement’s words when it comes to discussing the future of Lundstram in particular at Ibrox.

Not long ago he was confident that the former Sheffield United midfielder would still be at Rangers next season, but with talks now shelved it seems like the writing is on the wall.

Barisic has lost his place as the first-choice left-back at the club and at 31-years-old he is beyond his best years, so an exit was always on the cards with Ridvan Yilmaz finding form, Dujon Sterling being a favourite and Jefte expected to join in the summer.

But for Lundstram he is still seen as a key member of the first eleven by Clement and if he is to move on to pastures new next season, there will be a big gap to fill in the midfield.

Ultimately though he has struggled more often than he has shone in Glasgow and fans won’t be overly sad to see him move on as he is the wrong side of 30 now too.

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