John Lundstram might have come through the youth ranks on the blue half of football’s Merseyside divide.
But Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard proved an inspiration for all aspiring players in his home city.
And that could be a big factor in the Rangers boss landing the £10 million-rated former Sheffield United midfielder for free.
Gerrard revealed at the weekend that the Light Blues were close to adding to their squad as they look to strengthen ahead of the crucial Champions League qualifiers and the start of their title defence.
Lundstram could well be that man with Gers having been linked with him since last season when it was revealed the 27-year-old would let his Brammall Lane contract run down.
Gerrard’s influence has proved crucial in tempting targets to join his Ibrox revolution but and as a fellow Scouser and box-to-box midfielder, it’s no surprise Lundstram could be another.
Speaking in a previous interview with The Times, the former England youth international said: “Steven Gerrard was my role model.
"To see a local lad playing in Liverpool’s first team was something that every young Scouser wanted to be. The way he played, the way you could see his passion on the pitch rubbed off on every young Scouser.
“If you look at a lot of sporting people from Liverpool we’re quite similar, we don’t really get above ourselves. That might be the working-class city we come from.”
But it was at Goodison Park rather than Anfield where Lundstram first harboured dreams of making it when he was picked up as youngster.
He made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Tranmere Rovers under Roberto Martinez seven years ago but didn’t play a competitive match and was released at the end of that season.
Lundstram was in the first team squad for three years but had no fewer than six loan spells away from the Toffee Men before a permanent switch to Oxford United.
He then moved to Sheffield United in a £700,000 deal and helped the Blades win promotion to the English Premier League and a ninth place finish in the top flight against all the odds.
However, last season things turned sour for Chris Wilder’s men and he eventually lost his place in the side to Norwegian Sander Berge.
Lundstrum came in for criticism as the club headed for relegation but former Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny reckoned he was unfairly singled out.
Kenny said: “Because he’s gonna be out of contract he’s maybe being used as a scapegoat. He’s turned down a deal and looking like he’s going to move on. Because of that, people are jumping on him even more.
“He’s probably a £10m player and would be a fantastic Championship player at that level.”
