John Lundstram knocked back a mega-bucks offer that would have made him one of Sheffield United’s “four or five biggest earners” to join Rangers.
The midfielder’s rejection of a lucrative contract at Brammall Lane was the final straw for the Blades who were then resigned to losing the 27-year-old.
Former boss Chris Wilder described it as a “take or leave it offer” midway through last season as he admitted defeat in keeping one of his star men.
Lundstram revealed this week that the lure of playing under Steven Gerrard and a crack at the Champions League were the key factors for him in moving to north of the border.
Wilder has since departed with Slavisa Jokanovic taking over and now they have to try and replace the ex-Everton youth kid.
A source close to the negotiations told the Sheffield Star that the proposal rejected by Lundstram would have “put him among the top four or five biggest earners there.”
Sheffield United tried to cash in on him during the January transfer window but he stayed in South Yorkshire for the remainder of his contract and joined Gers as a free agent.
Wilder praised Lundstram’s professionalism despite the contract stand-off but grew frustrated as the situation dragged on.
The midfielder joined the club from Oxford United in a £700,000 deal and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League and a ninth place finish.
