Premier League Aston Villa have once again been mentioned alongside Rangers winger Ryan Kent with long-term suitors Leeds United also linked for the first time this window.
The Ibrox winger, 26, is entering the final year of his Rangers deal and there remains some conjecture surrounding a new contract with the Gers in a difficult situation regarding the player.
If a club comes calling in the final days of the window Rangers may be forced to sell unless they can convince Ryan Kent to sign a new contract because otherwise they risk losing the player for nothing.
Given the £7m outlay Rangers spent to bring Ryan Kent to the club – and his importance to the side – this would be viewed as a failure from within the support.
Aston Villa have been mentioned as potential Ryan Kent suitors ever since former manager Steven Gerrard moved to Birmingham and they were once again mentioned alongside the player last week.
This came amid comments from insiders at the Premier League club after the collapse of the deal to bring winger Ismaila Sarr to Villa Park from Watford.
Rangers winger Ryan Kent linked to Aston Villa and Leeds Utd
Now, Kent has once again been mentioned as a potential Villa target in the wake of the Sarr deal collapsing by Midlands football journalist Josh Holland.
“The Sarr move apparently didn’t work out because of Gerrard’s decision to go against the move, so it’s got to be someone that Gerrard prefers,” said Holland [Give me Sport].
“You could look at potentially Ryan Kent at Rangers. They’ve obviously worked together and I think he’s proven himself the last couple of games against PSV [Eindhoven] with his quality.”
The winger was then linked with a move to Leeds United by the Daily Mail amid reports that Tottenham Hotspur could make a late bid for Dan James.
Leeds have been perennially linked with a move for Ryan Kent – even having a £10m bid rejected in 2020 – but potential interest has been quiet ever since Jesse Marsch took the reins at Elland Road.
Rangers fans will be eager to keep a hold of Ryan Kent who has shown time and again his influence and ability at the highest level for the Ibrox club.
Yes, we need more goals and assists from the winger who looks like he’s growing in confidence this season, but losing him would represent a monumental blow heading into the remainder of the domestic and Champions League campaigns.
Meanwhile, a controversial Rangers Champions League move could recoup up to £9m for the club.
