According to a recent report by the Daily Express, Rangers captain James Tavernier has tipped English attacker Ryan Kent to have a spell in the Premier League in the near future. The 24-year-old attacker signed on with Rangers on a permanent basis last summer, having played out what was a highly successful loan spell from Liverpool prior to that. The Ibrox club secured the speedster’s services for £7.5m, in a deal that can now easily be branded a bargain. And now, under the tutelage of Steven Gerrard, Kent has begun to flourish, and this undoubtedly was what Leeds United saw when they made a £10m approach for him in the summer.
Although Tavernier tips Ryan Kent to secure a Premier League move, whether or not this takes shape remains to be seen. Speaking ahead of Rangers’ draw against Benfica, the skipper said, “Ryan has all the qualities to become a really top player. He’s getting there, you can see that. He’s scoring goals and adding numbers to his game. Hopefully, that will continue. He is showing incredible consistency. There is nothing better I’d like to see than Ryan in the Premier League and hopefully that day will come — after this season.”
What Is Rangers’ Situation In The Wide Areas?
The Ibrox club have a number of options to choose from in the wide role on paper, but a closer inspection will reveal the sensitive position that they’re in on this regard. Ryan Kent remains their only first-team quality winger, with Gerrard often opting to deploy the likes of Cedric Itten, Joe Aribo, Ianis Hagi and Kemar Roofe as makeshift wingers on the opposite flank. The Gers’ natural wide options are Brandon Barker, Jordan Jones and Greg Stewart, but none of them have managed to capture the manager’s imagination.
While Barker’s inconsistency doesn’t allow for him to be played regularly, Jordan Jones’ recent seven-game ban for breaking COVID-19 guidelines would’ve done very little to help his cause. What this means is that in the potential absence of Ryan Kent, Gerrard would have to find another player that he can squeeze into the wide areas. However, the English attacker has been nothing short of a revelation down the flank this season. The 24-year-old’s 15 league matches have resulted in five goals and five assists, while his contribution in Europe reads one goal and two assists from six fixtures in the tournament.
What Makes Ryan Kent Such A Key Player?
Kent’s explosive pace and ability to get past defenders have both come in handy on numerous occasions across various competitions as well. The raw speed and directness that he offers are matched by very few players in the entirety of the Scottish Premiership, and that alone should be motivation enough for the Gers to keep hold of his services. Although he looked like a rather unpolished gem over the course of last season, the fact that he has added goals and a general end-product to his game will come as a boost to the club as well.
Tavernier Tips Ryan Kent To Secure A Premier League Move: Can Gerrard Afford To Lose Him?
One thing that can be said with certainty is that losing him could completely collapse the form and momentum that Rangers have built this season. This means that selling him, at least until the end of the season, is a thought that must be completely ruled out. Keeping Celtic from achieving their tenth straight league title is obviously Rangers’ target this season, and the only way they can hope to achieve that is by winning the competition themselves. That possibility is sure to be running on the speedster’s mind as well. There’s no denying that Kent is eventually going to move on to bigger things, but with the best interest of the club in mind, Gerrard must hold onto him for as long as he possibly can.
