STEVEN GERRARD is prepared to wait until the last second before the transfer deadline to bring Ryan Kent back to the club if that is what it takes to land the ‘outstanding’ winger.
Kent has impressed during parent club Liverpool’s pre-season friendly schedule so far and is also attracting interest from English Championship side Leeds United, but Gerrard remains hopeful that he can persuade both his former club and the player that the best place for his development is Ibrox.
“Am I willing to wait until the last day of the window for Kent? I'm willing to wait until the last second,” Gerrard said. “I'll give it to the very last second to get Ryan back here.
“He's an exception because he was outstanding last year. I feel he's ready to go again, with the confidence he should have from last season.
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“But we're still talking about a player who belongs to Liverpool. They'll make the decision on him and we'll be totally respectful to the club and Jurgen Klopp.
“Everyone knows I want him back and I'll give it until the last second. But if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.
“The truth is we want him back. I haven't spoken to him for a while, so we'll wait patiently to see if he wants to come back and respect Liverpool's decision.”
Gerrard displayed the depth he now has in his squad in the thumping of Gibraltarian minnows St Joseph’s on Thursday night, but despite the numbers he now has in the Ibrox dressing room, the Rangers boss is keen to add to that competition for places further still.
He feels that there is still room for improvement in some areas, and that the addition of a player like Kent could be the difference as the level of opponent increases.
“As you go along, it’s natural that the competition will get tougher,” he said.
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“I felt our performance on Thursday night was quite boring and slow in the first half, and I thought we were a bit nervous and tentative.
“I don’t think we showed what we have been practicing in training and in the previous friendlies.
“The second half was a lot better. The players took the shackles off and it was more entertaining for the crowd. That’s more what I’m looking for.
“We’ve got a good squad and we’ve got headaches in certain positions, but that’s a nice headache to have.”
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