The Scotsman reported last week that Sheyi Ojo is Ibrox-bound on a loan deal, while the player himself hinted on Twitter that he’s heading for pastures new next season.
Furthermore, club insider, Four Lads Had A Dream, claimed the deal was ‘all but done.’
Following these developments, journalist, Gavin Berry, shared his thoughts on the potential transfer on the Record Rangers Podcast.
“It looks as if Rangers are resigned to losing him (Ryan Kent) and Liverpool have said ‘you’re not getting him but by the way here’s another guy’,” Berry suggested.
“He is a Ryan Kent type that will get bums off seats, exciting fans.
“When you talk to people down south then Ojo is one they reckon could feature in the first team down there. He would be a good one to get and certainly to soften the blow of Ryan Kent.”
So, can Ojo really replace a player so loved by the Ibrox faithful?
Kent dazzled for the majority of his season-long loan at Rangers. He showed himself to be a big game player and humiliated Mikael Lustig on multiple occasions in Old Firm meetings.
His trickery in wide areas was a joy to watch and he offered pace on the counter-attack. However, in terms of direct goal contributions, there is definitely room for improvement. He only notched six goals and six assists in 27 SPL matches.
Therefore, the bar is set high for Ojo in terms of wow factor, but not so much in terms of tangible contributions.
He too struggled for goals across the campaign, notching just the one in the French League Cup. However, he has mainly been limited to substitute appearances so far in his fledgling career.
Just like Kent before he joined Rangers, Ojo has been on several loans but is yet to have that major breakout season.
Perhaps, following a stint in a top European league with Stade de Reims, Ibrox is the perfect place for him to blossom.
He has pace to burn, which Gerrard’s side will lack in the absence of Kent.
Time will tell on this one. But while Rangers fans will be disappointed if their hero doesn’t re-sign, his replacement has the raw attributes to become just as much of a hit in Glasgow next season.
