Keeping Kent is key to success says manager

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has no doubts that Ryan Kent ‘ can get to a different level’ in his burgeoning career.

But Gerrard is equally certain that the Ibrox club must reject any fresh offers for the exciting winger in the January transfer window if they hope to build on their promising start to the season and become Scottish champions for the first time in a decade.

Rangers turned down a bid of around £10 million from Leeds United for Kent, pictured, during the summe rt ran sf er window and also resisted any temptation to sell strike r Alfredo Morelos to Lil le, preferring to adopt a longer-term strategy towards their finances which saw them post a loss of £15.9 min their recently published 2019 -20 annual accounts.

G err a rd is appreciative of his board’ s support and insists their determination to hold onto Kent must be maintained throughout January when Leeds are expected to re-ignite their interest in the 24-year-old.

"It’ s imperative that we keep Ryan at this football club if we are to stay true to what we all want, which is success,” said Gerrard.

Kent scored his sixth goal of the season in Rangers’ 4-0 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox on Sunday which increased their lead over Celtic at the top of the Premiership to 11 points. He has also provided seven assist sin the campaigns of arbutG err a rd believe she brings much more than just those headline numbers to Rangers’ style of play .

"He can be as good as he wants to be ,” added Gerr a rd .“Ryan has all the tools and the ability and talent togo on improving and get to a different level, without a doubt.

"People often wonder why we have so much faith in Ryan and why he plays so many games. It’ s because–in and out of possession–he totally gets what we’ re trying to do in terms of our philosophy.”