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Rangers will have to wait on Jurgen Klopp’s assessment of Ryan Kent this summer before a decision is made on his future at Liverpool and a potential loan move back to Ibrox, as reported by The Daily Record.
What’s the story?
The Reds’ season isn’t even finished yet, with Klopp currently preparing for a mammoth UEFA Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Record reckon that the Liverpool boss wants to assess Ryan Kent’s progress during the Anfield side’s pre-season preparations, meaning Steven Gerrard will be left waiting on a potential deal for the player.
With the paper saying that Aston Villa are also in the hunt for the winger with a potential multi-million pound bid, the odds seem to be against Kent returning to Ibrox next term.
Ojo option
Fortunately for Rangers there’s another talented winger apparently available from Liverpool this summer, Sheyi Ojo, and Gerrard is keen on bringing him to Ibrox on a season long loan deal.
The report states that Klopp is more willing to get a quick deal done for the 21-year-old in the upcoming transfer window, meaning that the Gers can add him quickly to their squad ahead of hugely important UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
Ojo is adept at playing on the left or right flank and committing to the former Wolves and Fulham loan star appears to be the way forward for the Ibrox side.
Signing him and forgetting about Kent would allow the recruitment team to focus on other targets this summer, preventing an ongoing and unsettling transfer saga, with Ojo effectively replacing his presence in the squad.
Why not both?
Rangers are already loaded up with plenty of wingers ahead of next season.
The move for Northern Ireland international Jordan Jones has given Gerrard another option on the left flank, while new signing and exciting prospect Jake Hastie can play on either side.
With Glenn Middleton showing excellent form for the reserve and youth sides over the last few months and the potential arrival of Ojo, the need for Kent’s return becomes far less urgent and arguably unneeded.
That core of four players is at least initially an excellent basis for the summer, with the possibility of entering the market in late August always an option.