Temporary deals are not way forward for new era at Ibrox

IN a week when Rangers were linked with a loan move for yet another Liverpool youngster it was a more left-field name that arrived at Ibrox.

Ryan Kent became the latest Anfield rising star rumoured to be attracting interest from Steven Gerrard ahead of the new gaffer’s arrival for his first day of work at the training ground yesterday.

The 21-year-old joined the names of Harry Wilson, Dominic Solanke and Ben Woodburn who are all reportedly on Gerrard’s list of targets from his old club.

It’s an obvious road for the Light Blues boss to go down given his links to the club where he enjoys legendary status and the fact he worked with many of the up and comers in his role at the Liverpool academy.

But while he has been linked with a string of Reds – including the older and more experienced Jon Flanagan who has recently left Anfield – Ovie Ejaria is the only one to have made the temporary switch from Merseyside to Govan.

And as easy as it would be, Gerrard should resist the temptation to flood his team with Liverpool kids and instead go down the route of Nikola Katic who did check into Ibrox this week.

The Croatian’s name emerged on the same day as Kent’s and the defender is more like the type of player Gers should look at to fit their business model.

He’s the same age as Kent but with a couple of seasons of firstteam football under his belt with Slaven Belupo and a Croatian cap to his name.

Signed on a four-year deal, if he can be the success Rangers hope he will make them a tidy profit on their £2million outlay.

It’s a market Old Firm rivals Celtic have mastered with the success of hidden gems like Victor Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk earning them fortunes.

Rangers have had success in the past with Carlos Cuellar – snapped up for less than £3m and sold on for almost £8m after just one season.

The Spaniard was spotted by John Brown as he spied on the La Liga side in a UEFA Cup tie against Bordeaux, with Gers due to play the winners in the last 16 of the competition.

With nine-a-row legend Brown back on the Gers scouting staff under director of football Mark Allen, they will be hoping to unearth a few more like that.

First and foremost, they have to be a success on the park but there is more chance of punting Katic for a profit than the likes of Bruno Alves and Clint Hill.

And it beats loan signings with history showing that market is hit and miss when it comes to Premier League kids.

Rangers themselves recruited Phil Bardsley and Lee Martin from Manchester United under Paul Le Guen but neither enjoyed much success and last season Aaron Nemane failed to hit the heights after joining from

History shows the loan market is hit or miss when it comes to loans for Premier League kids

the blue half of Manchester. Danny Ward was outstanding when the keeper joined Aberdeen from Liverpool and Brandon Barker at Hibs, on loan from Manchester City, was too.

But too often the Premiership has proved to be too tough an environment for kids, however big the club they come from.

You only have to look at the much-hyped Charly Musonda who flopped at Celtic from Chelsea last season.

And where Pool are concerned, there is the added complication of the obligation to play signings in a certain number of games.

Bristol City were reportedly hit with a fine of up to £500,000 after boss Lee Johnson left Kent out of the starting line-up.

That type of money could be better invested in Gers at a time when they are being prudent.