THE performance that Ryan Kent gave after his first match for Rangers was just as steady than the one that he turned in against Osijek.
Thankfully for Steven Gerrard, that balance has since shifted. Kent may not make many headlines with his public utterances, but he has done his talking with his play as he has come to the fore this season.
The winger was handed his debut by Gerrard for the Europa League qualifier in late July and showed up well just days after signing and hours after being given clearance to play.
Before he was hurriedly rushed onto the waiting team bus to take the Light Blues squad to the airport for the flight home, Kent gave an insight into his motivations for joining the Gers and what had been his mixed experiences on loan in recent years.
Kent has been contracted to Liverpool since 2015 - he is until the summer of 2022 - but has made just one first team appearance. That FA Cup third round draw with Exeter City three years ago could prove to be his only outing in red.
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The forward has had spells at Coventry, Barnsley Freiburg and Bristol City in recent years but it is at Ibrox where he has really flourished under the guidance of Gerrard. And that is the problem for Rangers.
The time on the road, the highs and lows, prepared Kent for a move that has allowed him to take a real step forward in his career.
Come the summer, the 22-year-old will likely be on the move once again, but a return to Rangers seems unlikely at this stage. Gerrard has reaped the rewards of Kent, but the risk of the deal could now count against the Ibrox boss.
The danger of taking up-and-coming talents from Premier League clubs is that you can bring them to the attention of teams with bigger budgets and more to offer in terms of the level they operate at. Rangers could now be the victims of Kent’s success.
His performance in the Old Firm win in December was his finest of the campaign and the way he led the line at Parkhead on Sunday was very impressive. The goal he scored - jinking by Dedryck Boyata and beating Scott Bain with a clinical finish - looked like earning Rangers a point until a battling draw was snatched from their grasps late on.
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“He was excellent,” Gerrard said. “It’s been in the papers all week about how he’s worth about £12m and it’s because of performances like that.
“I’m glad he’s getting that recognition. He was outstanding.”
And therein lies the issue for Rangers. Kent is clearly a player Gerrard would like to keep, but his progress has, in all likelihood, taken him out of his price range as he prepares for a crucial summer in the market.
If Liverpool wish to loan Kent out again because they see him having a long-term future at Anfield, Rangers would be the ideal destination.
But a permanent deal brings Championship clubs into serious contention and the Reds could recoup several million pounds for the former England youth internationalist.
That would leave Gerrard needing to spend a significant percentage of his budget on one player and with so many key positions needing filled - a centre half, a creative midfielder and a striker for starters - it is hard to justify the outlay. Kent has undoubted talent and unfulfilled potential, but Rangers are not in the hunt for players of his value on long-term deals and are unable to compete with English clubs when big fees are paid.
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When Kent is on his game, his pace, touch and trickery make him not just one of the most exciting players in the country, but one of the most effective in the Premiership.
His loss would be a real blow for Gerrard and it is unlikely that Jordan Jones, signed on a pre-contract, will have the same impact next term. The return of Jamie Murphy from injury could offset Kent’s absence, but while the 29-year-old arguably offers more of a goal threat, he is not as dynamic as the Liverpool loanee.
Whatever money Gerrard spends this summer, he must do so wisely. A deal for Kent makes some sense, but not enough to make it a reality.
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