Ryan Kent and that £12M pricetag

So a Liverpool tabloid has today made a firm claim that Anfield have officially/unofficially put a stonking £12M price tag on Ryan Kent’s head.

Previously it had been believed it was £7M, then it was ‘anything up’ £12M, but now it appears, if this report is correct, that Rangers’ most dangerous player these days will now cost well over eight figures for Rangers to secure.

If, that is, we’re endeavouring to buy him outright.

First things first – arguments will rage over whether Kent is worth this kind of money, but whether we think it’s value or not, a young English player in hot form is always going to cost more than other nationalities, especially one who is doing it in the UK.

The fact is English players between 18-25 who are in form, in demand, and show impressive talent end up being valued at colossal sums.

Look at Kent’s technical team mate at Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold. Only 20 years old age, and two years Kent’s junior, but this Liverpool Academy graduate is already a complete mainstay in Jurgen Klopp’s all-conquering Anfield side, and is said to be valued anywhere between £50-£100M, depending on who you listen to.

Well over a year ago, before his stock had risen to its current level, he was already a £15M target for Juventus, and therefore it’s not unreasonable in truth that a player three years older and performing at a slightly lower level would fetch a number not a huge distance off that.

The reality is this is what players cost now. Rangers fans have to remember we’ve been out the Premiership for four years, and not been serious on major pricy transfers since our return. We’ve not spent much more than £3M on any player since promotion.

Whereas Celtic are casually throwing around up to £10M on players.

Because that’s the going rate now.

If we can get him again on loan, that would be ideal – because no matter how highly most supporters rate Kent, it would be borderline blowing most of our summer budget on one player. Even if he may be deemed ‘worth’ that money.

But let’s not be naïve and imagine a player of his stock, position, nationality and age isn’t going to cost cash like that.