---
title: "Rangers: Kenny shocked at Fashion Sakala revelation"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-paddy-kenny-fashion-sakala-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-06-06T11:35:57Z"
modified: "2021-06-06T11:35:57Z"
---

# Rangers: Kenny shocked at Fashion Sakala revelation

**Paddy Kenny is stunned by comments from new Glasgow Rangers signing Fashion Sakala, who revealed he turned down moves to the Premier League to switch to Ibrox instead.**

### **The Lowdown: Sakala becomes Gers’ first summer signing**

Gers signed Sakala on a free transfer from Belgian outfit Oostende ([rangers.co.uk](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/rangers-delighted-to-announce-signing-of-fashion-sakala/6XPJ0m6Q1wrmAF0hPIBBcW)), making him the club’s first new arrival of the summer.

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Following the confirmation of the deal, £2.25m-valued Sakala ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fashion-sakala/marktwertverlauf/spieler/485729)) revealed he had the option to move to the Premier League instead but chose the Gers after speaking to Steven Gerrard ([The Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7086837/rangers-sakala-turned-down-premier-league-transfer-gerrard/)).

### **The Latest: Kenny shocked**

[Speaking to Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/rangers-kenny-stunned-by-recent-sakala-comments/), Kenny revealed his shock at Sakala’s admission. He said:

> *“I’m stunned by that, to be honest. I’d have thought he’d want to go to the Premier League and play.*
>
> *“No disrespect to Rangers or the Scottish league but the Premier League is probably the best league in the world.*
>
> *“But the fact he’s turned them down reflects really well on Rangers.*
>
> *“They have got an unbelievable manager in Steven Gerrard. He is going to have a lot of pull when it comes to signing players.*
>
> *“Rangers are flying after winning the title back after so many years. The atmosphere at the club is the complete opposite to Celtic.”*

### **The Verdict: Pull of Gerrard**

On the face of it, it is bizarre to hear 24-year-old Sakala turned down a move to England. The Premier League is a more prestigious division, while he would have been able to earn considerably more money south of the border than north of it.

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However, the Gers have a joker up their sleeve in the form of Gerrard. Previously a legendary player, many will want to work with him purely on that basis.

After taking the Gers through an unbeaten Premiership season to win the title as a manager ([BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/scottish-premiership/table)), his reputation has only been enhanced. While the 55-time Scottish champions will always struggle to sign the cream of the crop, they will be able to convince certain in-demand players purely thanks to Gerrard.

***In other news, [Rangers have been urged to sign this striker.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-news/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-oli-mcburnie-noel-whelan/)***