In a recent interview with Football Insider, Frank McAvennie urged Aston Villa not to make a move for Rangers ace Ryan Kent. When quizzed on whether the Villans’ should move in for the English wide player, McAvennie said, “No.
“He would not fit in to the Aston Villa team. They have got so many forward thinking players at Aston Villa, you can’t squeeze them all in. At some point you have got to defend.
“At some point you have got to chase back and he is not doing that. He is not showing a willingness to do that. When you lose the ball the first thing you have to do is get it back.“
Kent’s Campaign Of Mixed Emotions In Scottish Football
Kent is having an up-and-down season at the Ibrox Stadium as he has struggled to be consistent with his performances over the past couple of months. The 25-year-old registered one goal and four assists in 13 matches for the Glaswegian outfit during this campaign on all fronts.
The Oldham-born deserves some credit for averaging 1.1 tackles, 2.1 shots, 1.7 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Scottish Premiership. He has even been tidy when distributing the ball in the final third after completing 85.5% of his attempted passes in the Scottish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
What Should Aston Villa Boss Steven Gerrard Do With Regards To Kent?
Kent has got decent pace under his belt and can make a few dangerous runs with the ball in the final third. He has got the eye to play a decisive pass in the opponent’s half and can strike the ball with power and accuracy from long range. Kent mainly operates as a left-sided wide player but can also play on the right flank or assume the duties of a secondary striker if needed.
The Oldham-born sensation can even get stuck in with some solid tackles to make life difficult for the opposition. Hence, he would have been a good fit for the Villans next year.
Kent has already tasted success under Steven Gerrard‘s stewardship during their time together at the Ibrox. Therefore, he could prove to be a great signing for Aston Villa as long as they are willing to play him regularly in Premier League football.
Furthermore, Kent’s current deal with Rangers will expire at the end of this campaign. With all things considered, Gerrard would be wise to not listen to McAvennie’s advice and should rather engineer a cut-price move to bring him to the West Midlands club this January.
