Rangers, after years of turmoil, have emerged as a rejuvenated force under Steven Gerrard. The former Liverpool and England midfield icon has transformed the Bears into genuine title contenders following a successful summer window and guided them to make it to the group stages of prestigious Europa League competition maintaining an unbeaten status from the very first qualifying round. They are currently leading the Group G standings amid plaudits of pundits for such an incredible show, and a few of their new recruits have stepped up sensationally in Gerrard’s attacking setup.
Ryan Kent, the 21-year-old Liverpool loanee, is undoubtedly one of them who has exhilarated the Ibrox crowd and his desire to make the move permanent should be considered earnestly by the officials. The young winger grew up watching Steven Gerrard train and shine at his boyhood club, but the exposure in Scotland has made him think of laying down roots for years to come.
“It’s something I’d consider. Definitely. The fans are amazing here. The club has a lot of history. It’s an amazing club but it’s a conversation they will have to have with Liverpool – not me.”
The player had the above to say ahead of Rangers’ crucial Premiership tie against league leaders Hearts.
Kent joined Liverpool at the age of seven and made significant strides through academy ranks before being loaned out to the lower divisions of English football. A couple of successful spells with Coventry City and Barnsley followed by an impressive pre-season last year under Jurgen Klopp earned him another temporary stint in Bundesliga with Freiburg.
But his time in Germany was short-lived due to lack of minutes and the player was recalled in January and loaned out to Bristol City for the remainder of the previous term. His performance, however, was mostly underwhelming and the prospect of becoming a first-team resource at Liverpool was further jeopardized following the resurgence of Harry Wilson and Ben Woodburn. However, the youngster seems to have utilised the opportunity of resurrecting his senior career, and the guidance of Steven Gerrard is one of many reasons why he is willing to commit his long-term future in new surroundings.
Kent’s on-field contribution does not have a statistical reflection but the work rate and drive he brings to the game are indeed unparalleled. The season-ending knee injury of Jamie Murphy has made the Reds starlet an essential resource of Gerrard’s Rangers revolution and the advancement he has shown in recent weeks implies an even better display in upcoming months.
He, however, is under contract at Liverpool until 2022 and won’t come cheaper than £2m. The Light Blues cannot spend millions due to financial limitations but should expect a successful negotiation thanks to the influence of Steven Gerrard – the Kop legend and one of the Reds’ all-time great for his herculean contribution in club’s rich history.
