RYAN EAGER FOR SILVER LINING THIS TIME ROUND
I feel there was unfinished business from last year and I’m aiming to put that right
RYAN KENT says he wants to complete ‘unfinished business’ at Rangers after sealing a £7million deadline-day return. The 22-year-old shone during a loan spell at Ibrox last season, being named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, but headed back to Liverpool without any tangible success in terms of silverware.
Kent was determined to be reunited with Steven Gerrard and made his preference clear to the Anfield hierarchy after they turned down a bid from Rangers to secure a second year on loan.
Liverpool were only willing to consider a permanent sale, with last week’s qualification for the Europa League helping the Ibrox outfit pull off the second-most expensive signing in their history late on Monday evening.
‘I am delighted to be back here, it has been quite a long summer, a lot of things could have potentially happened but I am delighted to be here,’ said Kent, who had also been wanted by Leeds United, Krasnodar and Club Brugge during the window.
‘I never lost hope. There were probably moments when I thought it might not happen but I guess good things come to those who wait.
‘I won’t lie, it has been incredibly tough over the summer but I am a mentally strong person. I knew if I kept myself correct, something good would happen soon and I have been ticking over, keeping myself to myself. This has happened now and I’m over the moon.
‘I got a feel for what it was to be a Rangers player. I felt like there was unfinished business from last year and I am hoping to put that right.
‘The fans here are incredible, I have probably never come across any fans who even come close to Rangers fans.
‘Throughout the transfer window, the support from them for me to come back has been incredible. It has been overwhelming at times. I am just delighted to be back here. Hopefully, I can put on a big show for these people.’
Kent had loan periods at Coventry, Barnsley, Freiburg and Bristol City prior to joining Rangers last summer. And he hopes the stability now granted by a four-year deal at Ibrox can help further raise his game.
‘It was massively important to find a home,’ he told Rangers TV. ‘For the past four years, I have been on the move to different places and last year was the first time I have felt content with the football club I am at.
‘My home is here now. I can’t wait to play at Ibrox again. It will be a really nice thing, for me and my family.
‘After last season, I have evolved even more as a player and I think now if I could add that final end product to my game then it is going to be a good season for me and for the team.
‘With Steven Gerrard as manager, there is a lot of ambition that comes
from him, he wants to win things. (Rangers first-team coach) Michael Beale had me as a kid at Liverpool, he got the best out of me then and that is when I really started to believe in my talent as a young boy. ‘I think this coaching staff are going in the right direction. ‘I think the team have been excellent. ‘Watching them has been tough but I have seen how well they have done so far this season and now I want to be part of it.’ Meanwhile, director of football Mark Allen has praised the Rangers board for sanctioning Kent’s £7m purchase — and believes it is a sign of the club’s progression on and off the pitch.
The fee is more than double the previous record outlay under Gerrard’s management — £3m each for centrebacks Connor Goldson and Filip Helander — and is beaten only by the £12.5m shelled out for Tore Andre Flo in 2000.
‘I think it says a lot for the support and the vision of the board in terms of where it wants to get Rangers to,’ Allen told talkSPORT.
‘Obviously, like all businesses, it needs to be done in a prudent manner.
‘And over the last few years, the board and everyone at the club, we’ve put it back on an even keel with a sensible business approach.
‘On the playing side, European qualification has helped us and I think we’re now getting to the point where Rangers is in a place where, hopefully, we can move forward.
‘We made our intentions very clear right at the start of the window — Ryan was a key target and we got there in the end.
‘Liverpool have been fantastic in helping us get this over the line.’