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Ryan Kent is being targeted by Burnley, with scouts set to watch the Rangers winger over the final weeks of the season, The Scottish Sun reports.
The English attacker is moving ever closer to the end of his Ibrox contract and is now considered a “top free agent” for the summer window.
A move to the Premier League next season, with Vincent Kompany’s side having already secured promotion from the Championship, would “appeal” to him after being linked to a transfer to Leeds United multiple times.
Manager Michael Beale wants to keep the 26-year-old in Glasgow, having said recently, as per the Scottish Sun: “Ryan Jack’s in a place where I’ve said publicly that I’d like him to stay, and it’s the same with Ryan Kent.”
But with Clarets representatives set to watch him between now and the end of the season that looks to have moved a step further away.
Gone
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Having reached this point there is realistically only one way that Kent is still wearing a Rangers shirt next season and that is if he doesn’t get the offer he wants from elsewhere.
If he was ready to stay regardless of outside influences then a new deal would have been signed long ago, so if Burnley give him an opportunity to head back to the English top flight he surely takes it.
He never made an appearance in the competition in his time with Liverpool and former Manchester City captain Kompany is one of the most exciting young managers in football currently.
So from the former £7million signing’s point of view the chance to head to Turf Moor is probably exactly what he has been waiting for.
From the Light Blues’ point of view the club needs to be looking forward either way, since Kent has been a key part of the recent successes at Ibrox but also the failures.
He is without doubt a highly talented player but his virtually untouchable status in the starting line up hasn’t pushed him to develop into a consistent star, and whether he does end up remaining or not Beale needs more quality to push him, compliment him, or replace him in those areas.
In other Rangers news, a replacement looks like it might already have been lined up for Kent’s exit.