Liverpool have reportedly set a £12 million asking fee for on-loan winger Ryan Kent, who is targeted by Steven Gerrard-led Rangers over a permanent move.
According to Liverpool Echo, Liverpool have set an asking price for the services of Ryan Kent. The winger spent this season on-loan at Rangers, where he was involved in 12 goals in 23 matches. As a result, coach Steven Gerrard is keen to secure his services on a permanent basis this summer.
Liverpool are holding out for a minimum of £12 million, although Gerrard is hoping that the Reds will allow Kent to spend another season on-loan at Rangers.
This is not the first time the Reds have tried to demand a relatively higher fee for their unwanted players this summer. Second choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, for one, was made available for £15 million this week.
That said, a fee of £12 million could be warranted, especially for a player who has been critical to Rangers’ fortunes this campaign. Although Kent’s tally of six goals makes him only the fourth most productive player for Rangers this season, his presence in the final third has made the Teddy Bears much more dynamic in attack.
Furthermore, Kent’s willingness to take on a defender has been useful for Rangers, especially when probing the opposition. And the fact that he has been involved in 15 goals in all competitions is indicative of his offensive productivity that will help Rangers pose a strong threat to Celtic next season.
Hence, securing the services of Kent on a permanent basis will be a logical move from Rangers’ perspective. And at the age of 22, the Liverpool loanee can turn out to be a smart long-term investment for the Scottish giants.
As for Liverpool, the departure of Kent will help fund moves for their transfer targets this summer, albeit to a small margin. The Reds are currently lacking any reliable alternative to the offensive duo of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, thus accentuating the need for a new attacker, who can provide some much-needed depth as well as competition out wide next season.
On the flip side, shipping Kent out on loan once again, would not hurt either. The young English forward has shown promising signs under the tutelage of Gerrard this term. And the Liverpool legend could potentially groom him into first-team quality for Liverpool, should Kent continue his excellent form in the Scottish Premiership next season.
