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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Jurgen Klopp has said that a loan deal away from Liverpool is off the cards for Ryan Kent, casting doubt over a Rangers return, as reported by The Liverpool Echo.
What’s he said?
Klopp has stated that former Rangers loanee won’t be leaving the club temporarily this summer amid interest from various clubs.
The Reds’ boss stated: “The time is over giving him on loan. At a specific age, a player needs to find a place to settle and stuff like this. But we will see. A loan is not planned.”
The 22-year-old enjoyed a good spell at Ibrox last season and it was no secret that Gerrard wanted him to return to Glasgow. With BBC Sport reporting the Premier League side’s desired fee for the winger is £8m, he won’t come cheap if he is to come back to the Light Blues.
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Do they need him?
It’s absolutely fair to say that Kent was a success for Gerrard last season, winning PFA Young Player of the Year after contributing to 15 goals in his 43 appearances for the Gers.
Yet, the club has brought in four new wingers this summer, on top of Scott Arfield and Jamie Murphy returning from international duty and injury, respectively.
New arrivals Sheyi Ojo, Jordan Jones, Greg Stewart and Jake Hastie will expect to fight it out with Arfield and Murphy for the two wide berths at Ibrox this season. Chasing Kent could throw the current crop’s noses out of joint.
At the reported fee of £8m, the Liverpool winger would be an incredible gamble for the club itself. It’s not as if they’re bringing in a risk-free, cheap signing to a position of need. They’d be adding a seventh option on the flanks for a fee that’s only been bettered twice in their illustrious history.
Gerrard would be best using the high fee to dampen his interest in Kent and trust in the talented bunch already at the club. Quite frankly, eclipsing all but two transfers in the club’s entire existence for a player in a position that already has several quality options would be baffling, regardless of how popular Kent was last year.
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