OUT OF REACH
Gerrard admits defeat in bid to bring back Kent
STEVEN GERRARD last night admitted defeat in his attempts to bring Ryan Kent back to Rangers.
The 39-year-old believes a permanent deal for Kent, rated at around £10million by Liverpool, would likely be too expensive for the Ibrox club to pursue.
That was left as the only option after Anfield counterpart Jurgen Klopp ruled out another loan for the winger in his comments following Sunday’s 3-0 friendly defeat to Napoli at Murrayfield.
Gerrard — who dismissed suggestions of a bigmoney approach from China for Alfredo Morelos — had kept in contact with Liverpool throughout the summer in the hope of landing Kent for another 12 months.
The 22-year-old’s impressive displays for Rangers last term led to him being named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.
Gerrard stressed he fully understood the position taken by his former club when asked if that pursuit had now come to an end.
‘Where we are right now, yes,’ said the Ibrox
manager, speaking in Luxembourg ahead of tonight’s Europa League qualifier second leg against Progres Niederkorn.
‘I think we respect Liverpool’s stance and we thank them very much for allowing us to work with Ryan for a year.
‘We have obviously got a Liverpool player at the moment in Sheyi Ojo who has started very well. I had a good conversation on the phone with Jurgen a few days ago and we totally respect Liverpool’s position on it.’
Asked if Kent would carry too big a price tag for Rangers to buy, Gerrard replied: ‘I haven’t asked that question but I think the answer would probably be yes.’
Gerrard may yet look for another winger prior to the deadline, but declared himself happy with his squad as it stands following eight additions.
‘I think that is a possibility but there is no rush to do that,’ he said of making one more signing.
‘The squad is in a decent place at the moment, so we will go with what we have. If something was to come up that we think will make us better then we will take it to the board and the answer will be with them.’
It was reported yesterday that Morelos had rejected an approach from Chinese Super League team Hebei Fortune that could have potentially earned him £10m a year.
Gerrard, however, confirmed Rangers had not been informed of any interest. The Chinese transfer deadline passed last night.
‘I’m unaware of it,’ said Gerrard. ‘There have been no bids. It is as you were from the last time.’
Rangers hold a 2-0 lead from last week, but Gerrard is demanding an aggressive display to ensure Progres are not given any hope of repeating their 2017 shock win.
The Ibrox boss is without Steven Davis, who has remained in Glasgow to nurse a hamstring strain, but he is optimistic the Northern Irishman will be fit for the Premiership opener against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
‘It’s a game I’m looking forward to,’ said Gerrard. ‘I felt we should have got the job done last week but we left ourselves work to do. And we are here to do it.
‘We know this game will be tough. European games away from home, whoever you come up against, always pose you different challenges. We believe we are ready for it.
‘I want to see the same positive approach as the first leg. As far as I’m concerned, last week is done. We started this game 0-0 and we are coming here to win the game.
‘It’s always dangerous if you start thinking about advantages and how the first leg went. I want the players to approach this game in isolation. I want to see us build on a very positive pre-season.
‘I said to the players after the Derby game that giving people minutes and pre-season preparation is gone. We are now going to put our foot on the gas and go for real.
‘We are approaching our domestic season so we want to go into the Kilmarnock game in a good place. The only way we can do that is to get a positive result here.’
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Rangers will have to pay almost £450,000 in legal fees to Sports Direct as their dispute continues.
An injunction means Sports Direct must be given the right to match any kit deal agreed for next season, in place of the final year of the existing agreement with Hummel and Elite.