PHILIPPE Clement has admitted “the water is too deep” between Rangers and out-of-contract John Lundstram amid reports the Ibrox midfielder is set to join Trabzonspor in Turkey this summer.

Clement has expressed optimism that former Sheffield United player Lundstram, who has been an automatic starter in his side when fit since he arrived in Govan back in October, will sign an extension on more than one occasion in recent weeks.

However, the Belgian indicated that the Glasgow giants and the Englishman, who is one of the highest paid players in the Scottish game, have been unable to agree terms on a new deal when he spoke at his pre-match press conference at Auchenhowie today.

READ MORE: Rangers manager confirms transfer talks with Lens over Oscar Cortes

Asked about the Lundstram’s situation, he said: “There is nothing official around that. I am not naïve, the longer that things last the more possibility that other people step in. But for the moment apparently the water is too deep between the two sides.  

“But I see Lunny every day the same way that he was two months ago, three months ago, five months ago. He is fighting for the club. All these players are busy with winning trophies and doing the right things together. Otherwise they would not be in the selection.”

Reports in Turkey this week also suggested that Rangers left back Borna Barisic had also agreed to move to Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor along with Lundstram in the summer.

Glasgow Times: Clement did not provide any update on either the defender or the midfielder – but he did stress that he had no concerns about the commitment of the duo to the Glasgow club’s cause.

“There have been reports for months about a lot of players and a lot of things,” he said. “As long as nothing is official and I see the right things in the training and the dressing room, players are selectable.

“Borna will be in the selection from what I have seen until now. If he steps into the building tomorrow with another mindset that is something else. I don’t believe so. I see somebody who is serving this club already a long time and is really hungry for more titles and more trophies.”

READ MORE: Clement puts talks with all out-of-contract Rangers players on hold

Clement continued: “I see a good mentality in the six months together from the whole group,” he said. “There’s zero per cent chance that will change with these guys in the next two or three weeks. Why would it change? They’re fighting for trophies.

“If you don’t reach agreement with the club here you want to go in the best possible way and the best possible way is to win trophies. You want to leave with victories. They are determined. There’s no doubt about that and they’ve shown that it’s season also. 

“They took the League Cup. They showed also after the disappointment of Ross County and Dundee. It was easy for them to keep their heads down and to be down from all the criticism. But they got up at that moment.

“They reacted against Hearts, the third best team in the league, and in the next game also (at St Mirren last weekend). There’s not one reason why anyone in the world would doubt that. They’ve proven enough what they want.”