Rangers player will complete Ibrox temp exit within hours – report
Kai Kennedy will sign a new contract with Rangers and join Raith Rovers on loan within the next 24 hours, according to the Glasgow Evening Times.
The newspaper claims Kennedy, 18, is expected to arrive in Kirkcaldy on Thursday after all the relevant paperwork is signed off.
The young attacker spent the first half of the season on loan at Raith’s Championship rivals Inverness but that temporary deal was terminated due to him having difficulties living on his own.
The Evening Times now claims Kennedy has convinced the Rangers hierarchy he is worth a new deal with his existing terms set to expire at the end of the season. Once his new Ibrox contract is signed, he’ll return to the Championship with John McGlynn’s side.
Time to shine
Kennedy didn’t have the most fruitful loan spell at Inverness with the winger scoring one goal and one assist in 10 appearances across all competitions.
He failed to complete 90 minutes in any of his Championship matches as he struggled with personal issues throughout his spell in the Highlands.
Raith Rovers are closer to home for Kennedy so hopefully he’ll be able to get his head down and really concentrate on his football.
Kennedy is one of the best young prospects that Rangers have so securing him to a new contract is a major boost while his loan stint at Raith should see him improve if he gets enough game-time.
Speaking in November 2019, Steven Gerrard waxed lyrical about the Scotland youth international after he was called up the first-team training. He was quoted by the Daily Record as saying: “People look at Kai like he’s this wee player who doesn’t belong with men but he’s trained like a man all week.
“He’s been the most consistent and he’s a fabulous little player. It wasn’t just a token gesture because he’s a kid.”
Gerrard has an eye for young talent based on his spell as a youth coach at Liverpool before he joined Rangers.
Let’s hope he’s not wrong about Kennedy.
In other Rangers news, senior figures at the SFA are privately sceptical about these behind–the-scenes talks at Ibrox.