Aston Villa have struggled to replace the talismanic Jack Grealish but could Rangers manager Steven Gerrard call on Ibrox winger Ryan Kent to fill the void?
Rangers fans are coming to terms with Steven Gerrard’s swift Ibrox exit and with this comes the very real danger that the Gers manager might plunge for some of the Glasgow club’s key stars.
Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo are Gerrard favourites, whilst Connor Goldson’s contract situation is sure to interest the Gers boss, but the situation involving Ryan Kent is an interesting one.
Throughout Gerrard’s tenure at Ibrox the tricky winger has been a talismanic figure with Premier League interest from Leeds United a common feature over the last few seasons.
Steven Gerrard and the now Aston Villa backroom team have managed to help Kent, 25, to where he currently is in his career and perhaps they are the ones best equipped to take him to the next level, and not Marcelo Bielsa.
Could Rangers Ryan Kent replace Jack Grealish at Aston Villa?
Rangers – in need of sales to activate the player trading model – may be apprenhensive to lose one of their most influential talents but if the price is right this could work out for all parties.
Especially given Villa’s inability to replace the talismanic England international Jack Grealish since his £100m exit to Manchester City.
Whilst Grealish has had a solid start to life at the Etihad the man signed to replace him at Villa hasn’t fared quite so well.
Leon Bailey – a player Rangers fans might remember well from the Europa League – joined the Villa Park side on a £25m deal om Bayer Leverkusen following Grealish’s exit but he has struggled to impress thus far.
Alongside club record £38m summer signing Emiliano Buendia and £25m ex-Liverpool striker Danny Ings, Bailey represents a substantial investment which is yet to pain off in Birmingham.
As Steven Gerrard and his team perhaps look to bring some new faces into Aston Villa in January, could Ryan Kent potentially be the man to recapture the excitement of the Holte End?
Villa currently sit 16th in the Premier League, two points outside the relegation zone.
Speaking of transfer investment, there is some major conjecture and conflicting reports regarding the price paid by Aston Villa to take Steven Gerrard to the Premier League.