Rangers' Ryan Kent in Champions League action
Rangers forward Ryan Kent is exhibiting signs he will stay at Rangers, according to journalist Joshua Barrie.
The Lowdown: Kent’s contract
Kent’s current deal at Ibrox is set to expire at the end of the season, with his four-and-a-half-year stint in Glasgow set to finish with no new terms agreed over an extension as yet.
However, there seems to be a change of heart from the 26-year-old, with the arrival of Michael Beale breathing new life into the forward, who had seen his Gers form stagnate over the first half of the season.
Following on from scoring twice in his previous three SPFL games, Kent recently insisted to Sky Sports (via Daily Record) that he will discuss his future with Beale soon.
The Latest: Barrie’s comments
Speaking on The Rangers Review after the Gers’ 3-2 win over Kilmarnock which saw Kent and fellow contract rebel Alfredo Morelos bag the goals, Barrie claimed that Kent’s performances are displaying different signs to those usually attributed to wantaway players.
He said: “There’s always the worry when a player’s contract is up six months down the line, that he may have checked out or they’ll be so focused on setting up the rest of their career that they won’t be completely in what they are with said club that season. But I think you see with Kent that’s not an issue at all.
“Kent looks to be enjoying his football a lot more now under Beale, and that will only help if he is to stay at Ibrox.
“He’s 26; I’d imagine that he’d still want to play in the Premier League at some point, but I think he would surely view it as, if he does want to stay, that he can kind of resume where he left off with Beale and Gerrard towards the end of that title-winning season where he was playing [in] this position.”
The Verdict: Looks optimistic
Kent’s form of late has seen him almost resurrect his Rangers career after a disappointing start to the season, as following an average rating of 6.75 from September to November, he’s now averaging 7.15 under Beale (via Sofascore).
His upturn in form can also be credited to more of a free role under the Englishman, with his goal and vital hand in Rangers’ winner in midweek both coming from the middle of the pitch.
He couldn’t arguably be working under anyone better than Beale, with the Gers boss helping him rekindle that flame that he propelled as a coach during the 2020/21 title-winning campaign that brought 21 goal involvements in 37 league games.
His form and relationship with his new boss has left us agreeing with Barrie that there are very positive signs he may yet continue at Ibrox beyond this season.
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