As Rangers prepare to take on Braga in the relative riches of the Europa League, there’s a £7m+ dilemma currently sitting over Ibrox and Steven Gerrard.
The form of the out of sorts Ryan Kent.
The former Liverpool youth joined Rangers in the summer for a lofty fee which could eventually rise to £7.5m [Sky Sports] but hasn’t yet done enough to justify the price tag.
An undoubtedly talented player, Kent has struggled to dramatically improve on the numbers which, admittedly, earned him Young Player of the Year in Scotland last season.
Yet to register a single league assist, the price tag and Kent’s form has put the youngster under the microscope in 2020 as Rangers have struggled for form.
Is Kent’s six goals and four assists in 24 matches a good enough return for the investment [Transfermarkt]?
Whilst only 23, there’s little doubt the young winger still has room to grow and is far from the finished product.
But when that kind of money is spent – particularly in Scotland – you have got to be doing more to justify the price tag.
Many fans have been touting the youngster for some time out of the team with Florian Kamberi impressing during a 35-minute cameo against Livingston.
Steven Gerrard has also hinted the on-loan Hibs forward may be involved against Braga [Glasgow Times].
But Kent has shown time and again that he can be a big game player for Rangers and come up big for the club when called upon.
Does Steven Gerrard trust his £7m+ man to prove this in the crunch Europa League tie with Braga or is it too much of a risk given the winger’s out-of-sorts form?
It could be a decision which defines if Rangers are to progress or not in this competition.
