Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller believes a move to Premier League newcomers Burnley ‘will appeal’ to Ryan Kent as the winger’s Ibrox contract runs down.
If there is one thing Rangers’ next sporting director should learn from the Ross Wilson era, it’s the importance of striking while the iron is hot.
The Glasgow giants will lose Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Filip Helander for absolutely nothing when their contracts expire on July 1st.
Wilson was often accused of not ‘buying well’. And it’s fair to say he didn’t ‘sell’ particularly well either; Rangers missing the boat as far as cashing in on star players for big sums are concerned.
Kent – valued at around £20 million not so long ago – could now join newly-promoted Burnley on a free transfer. Vincent Kompany’s side have reportedly made a formal declaration of interest, according to the Daily Mail.
Burnley want Rangers winger Ryan Kent
“Ryan Kent has clearly decided he won’t be signing a new contract at Rangers. I think that’s pretty evident now,” Miller tells the Daily Record.
“Burnley appear to be the club that’s shown concrete interest in him. So it’s a Premier League opportunity for Kent.
“And in terms of how they play under Vincent Kompany, it actually looks a good fit. The role he’d be deployed in at Turf Moor would be similar to the one he’s got now at Rangers. I got to see Burnley first-hand under Kompany recently when I was at Huddersfield as assistant manager. He’s got the Clarets playing ‘total football’, which matches up with the style Kent plays in.
“Listen, going to Burnley will appeal to Kent. Purely and simply because it’s the Premier League. And they’ve been sensational under Kompany.”
One of the most intriguing aspects of Burnley’s interest is that, in Kompany, the Clarets have a coach who seems to get the best out of skilful wide players. Manuel Benson, Nathan Tella and Anass Zaroury have been outstanding at Turf Moor.
“I can understand why (Kent) might want that move in a football sense,” Miller adds. “The financial gains he’ll get from going there will also be a huge, positive factor in his head. To pick a player of Kent’s calibre up for free – and remember he’s still only 26 – Burnley will be able to offer serious wages.
“In today’s market, he’s still at least a £5m player. If Kent craves a Premier League move, this is his best opportunity at the optimum point in his career.”
Kent has just three goals this season but a respectable 10 assists. The remarkable advances made by Benson, Zaroury and Tella over the last eight months or so suggest that, under Kompany at Burnley, Kent could finally add a more consistent end product to his speed and style.
