Rangers should make another attempt to sign Swansea City forward Morgan Whittaker as Ryan Kent yet to commit future
Rangers forward Ryan Kent is yet to commit to his long-term future at Ibrox and that means the club may make another attempt to sign Swansea City attacker Morgan Whittaker this summer.
The 22-year-old fleet-footed forward was a top target for the Gers in the January window with Swansea City driving a hard bargain and demanding more than the reported £1.5m that was rejected, according to Fabrizio Romano [25 January].
Former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones [GiveMeSport, 24 January] believed that Rangers were going to “push” again to sign Swansea attacker after falling short of the Welsh side’s £2m [The Sun, 16 January] valuation.
However, according to Football Scotland [30 January], the Swans were never willing to sell their star forward and desperately wanted to keep Whittaker as a key player in their squad.
But that may not stop the Gers from returning with another potential bid this summer as one of their star players may be out the exit door at the end of the season.
Kent is out of contract at the end of the season and is currently free to discuss pre-contract deals with interested parties ahead of a potential summer transfer.
Speaking in his press conference on 10 March, Beale revealed that conversations had been held with the fleet-footed forward but no specific contract had been lodged yet – with an eye to opening discussions further in the International break.
But, with the international period over, there hasn’t been a single update regarding Kent’s decision to extend his stay at Ibrox which means Beale and the Gers board should be planning ahead should the worst happen.
Whittaker represents the ideal and perfect replacement for Kent should he decide to part ways.
If Rangers are serious about their exciting squad rebuild under Beale, then they should simply push ahead and sign the talented forward as he could well form a vital part of Beale’s squad for the future.
The 22-year-old spent the first half of the 2022/23 campaign out on loan with the League One side Plymouth Argyle and recorded some stunning goal returns, registering nine goals and seven assists from 25 games highlighting that the youngster will indeed deliver if provided with the confidence and opportunity in the Scottish Premiership.
Beale is indeed forming a brilliant squad so far, with Fashion Sakala, January signings Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell and Bayern Munich loanee Malik Tilman, who is likely to make his Ibrox stay permanent, all impressing under his stewardship.
The former Queens Park Rangers coach has worked wonders with youthful talents throughout his career and given his consistent returns already this season, Whittaker is surely one that would fit Beale’s progressive style as well as excite the whole crowd at Ibrox.
Kent potentially leaving the Gers would be a huge blow, but a succession plan looking ahead to the future will surely impress the club fans and signing Whittaker is a huge step in evolving Beale’s philosophy post-Kent.
In other Rangers news, a new up-and-coming manager has admitted he wants the Gers job.