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Former Leeds ace Noel Whelan has told Football Insider how good a signing he thinks Ryan Kent would be for Rangers.
What’s he said?
The 22-year-old has been told by Jurgen Klopp that he won’t get another chance out on loan, meaning a permanent move away from Anfield is likely this summer. As a result, the ex-Aberdeen man has tipped the Liverpool winger to be a brilliant bit of business if he were to go back to Steven Gerrard’s side.
“Kent would be a brilliant signing for Rangers or Leeds,” Whelan told Football Insider.
“There’s no chance of him playing regularly at Liverpool, there is just too much attacking depth, so he really needs to move on this summer.
“At Rangers, he would be a standout player. He developed well last season and showed he can be a regular matchwinner.
“He is quick, technically good, can beat a man, dribble, manipulate the ball, can play on both flanks or in the number 10 role, and creates and scores goals.”
His high praise of the wide-man has been reciprocated by many in Scotland, with Kent picking up the Young Player of the Year award last season while on loan at Ibrox.
Despite the club’s clear interest in the player and him seemingly now becoming available for a permanent transfer, there’s no guarantee that the deal will go ahead.
The stumbling blocks
The stars seem to be aligning for a return to Ibrox, but Kent to Rangers is far from a done deal.
Firstly, the reported price of £8m by BBC Sport would be the third-highest in the Light Blues’ history if went through. With the club’s record buy since promotion back to the top flight being £3.5m for Filip Helander, it would go against the grain of their recent activity.
Secondly, with Leeds United in the hunt for the winger, per The Scottish Sun, Gerrard faces tricky opposition to bring his starlet back to the club. The prospect of playing under Marcelo Bielsa must be intriguing, with the Argentine being cited by many of the game’s most prominent figures as an inspiration.
Lastly, Gerrard has already brought in four new wingers to the club this summer. Sheyi Ojo, Jordan Jones, Greg Stewart and Jake Hastie didn’t cost a penny but will have taken a dent out of the wage bill, meaning that the funds could be restricted for the already expensive deal for the winger.
While there are some promising signs that Kent will be a Rangers player, fans shouldn’t hold their breath on account of Whelan’s comments.
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