Despite making significant progress under Steven Gerrard, Rangers’ season ended in disappointment having failed to conquer any silverware. However, the Bears are aiming for the lost throne in the upcoming campaign and are likely to prefer quality over quantity while exploring the transfer market.
They have already tied down Jordan Jones, Steven Davis, Jake Hastie and Greg Stewart without spending a penny whereas a loan move for Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo is reportedly (as claimed by The Scottish Sun) in an advanced stage. The Gers are also plotting a swoop for Oldham centre-back George Edmundson. However, Gerrard’s men are set to suffer a significant blow in the chase of Ryan Kent.
According to The Scottish Sun, Aston Villa are preparing a £10m bid for the Liverpool youngster who enjoyed a blistering spell in Glasgow having received the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award. Gerrard was keen on retaining the Englishman for at least one more year, but the Reds have made their stance clear by slapping a price tag of around £10m (as reported by Daily Record) for their academy sensation.
Rangers, meanwhile, are not blessed regarding spending millions to challenge the English powerhouses financially. It is to be seen now whether the gaffer’s influence and contacts in Merseyside help him to sort things out. However, the Scottish giants seem to be fighting a losing battle as the clubs in England are readying up ambitious offers to acquire his services.
Aston Villa, under Dean Smith, have shown a massive upsurge and are now one step away from clinching a Premier League return. A win over Derby County in the playoff final would see them reclaiming a place in the top flight of English football which, understandably, would be more interesting for Kent over going back to Scotland.
Yet the Light Blues should be content with the business they have made so far this window. Also, the return of Jamie Murphy would be a significant boost considering his absence this term in the aftermath of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture last summer.
He is instrumental down the left flank, as are Stewart and Ojo having operated from the wings while featuring for their previous employers. Glenn Middleton and Eros Grezda are there as well to compete for first-team minutes and the Ibrox chief, therefore, seems to be well equipped in the attacking third even if he fails to secure a deal for Kent in the forthcoming weeks.
