A red top today has run with a Ryan Kent promotion story, explaining the Rangers winger tops respected Dutch stats site transfermarkt’s market value section with regards the Scottish Premiership at £12M, ahead even of Celtic man Jota who’s a distance behind at £9.5M.
Rangers fans currently have a significant love/hate relationship with Kent, many believing he’s downed tools and been a distance off his best for the bulk of 2022, if not longer, while others still see the lethal winger that he can be and rate him as such.
The reality is somewhere in the middle, and the only one whose opinion about Kent matters is that of Michael Beale, who rates him hugely.
Speaking at his debut presser, Rangers’ manager said:
“People think it’s all about tactics but it’s actually about the relationships you have, and the feeling you have towards the other person in that relationship. Make that journey very personal. I’ve lived that with Ryan Kent for example, from 14 until now. To be fair with Ryan it’s a look. If I give him a certain look and then he gives me a look. We have known each other for so long. Ryan and I have always been at complete ease with each other. I have always been a strong guide on his journey. There is an honesty. I think sometimes he wants to do so well that he does too much. Confuses himself. He is sensitive. He thinks a lot and he cares a lot. That probably comes out sometimes in his body language.”
Beale is a massive fan, and the stats don’t disagree. After all, no one is higher in the Scottish Premiership this season for chances created, including Celtic’s star man, and that’s the kind of stuff Kent’s critics ignore.
But Beale is correct – Kent overdoes things at times, loses focus, and lets his head go down when something doesn’t work. His talent has never been in question, even if some question his workrate. It’s his mood that gets affected more than his ability and graft – and under ex-boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst that got worse and worse as the former Rangers boss restricted his movement more and more.
But Beale will let it flourish, if Kent wishes to remain at Ibrox. £12M? Kent at his best is worth double that, and would fetch it. Not at the moment, due to his contract, but let’s not dismiss Kent as a valuable asset just because it’s fashionable these days to bash all Rangers players.
Fresh start under the new manager, and maybe Kent will convince everyone again that he’s a top player.