View: Ryan Kent is most important deal for Rangers this summer
As the summer transfer window approaches, there are several decisions that will need to be made at Rangers by manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Where the Scottish Premiership title ends up will have a big say on things, as well as the Scottish Cup and Rangers’ display from here on out in the Europa League.
But there are ten first-team contracts due to expire between now and the summer of 2023, but potentially none are more important to renew than that of Ryan Kent.
This summer all of Connor Goldson, Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Leon Balogun and Allan McGregor will see their contracts at Ibrox come to an end.
It seems certain that Goldson will leave, with England calling, while Davis, Balogun and McGregor are all way past their prime and could be allowed to move on. Arfield’s future is in the air, but it seems unlikely he’ll be a regular next season.
Next summer is a much scarier sight for fans. Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo, Filip Helander, Ryan Jack and Kent will all be free to leave the club unless they renew or are sold beforehand.
Morelos has toyed with the idea of leaving for years, while Aribo has come into his own over the last 18 months and is attracting the eyes of Premier League clubs.
Helander and Jack are much more likely to renew than anyone else, but Kent seems to be in a position that could ultimately go either way, which means Rangers have the chance to convince him to stay.
At just 25-years-old now, Kent is yet to enter the prime of his career and under Van Bronckhorst has seen his form hit new heights in the new 4-3-3 formation that focuses on width and possession.
Once described as ‘sensational‘ by Steven Gerrard, the man who brought him to the club, there is now suggestions that a return to England could be on the horizon following his performances in Europe.
But if the club must prioritise one man to re-sign to a new contract on fresh terms, it should be the former Liverpool academy graduate.
Morelos scores goals, but there are other goal scorers about and the Bears have a good record of finding men to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.
Aribo is a creative force with great energy but similarly, there are other players out there with a similar profile that are attainable across Europe.
What Kent provides is unique, because it’s a blend of both. He can dazzle defenders and create chances for his teammates from nothing, but he’s also capable of being the main man and difference maker.
As he enters the prime years of his career, Rangers should want to be part of the process that makes him one of the best players in Britain and potentially the continent.
Get fresh terms agreed and keep him at Ibrox for his best years, then anyone else who stays on is a bonus.
In other Rangers news, ‘Waste’ – BBC pundit bemoans use of ‘frightening’ Rangers ace, says transfer was ‘bizarre’