The next Ryan Kent: Rangers could land star with a "little bit of Gazza"
da pinnacle： Glasgow Rangers face one of the most important summer transfer windows in their recent history.
da betobet： After yet another trophyless season combined with Celtic’s domestic dominance, patience is wearing thin among the Ibrox faithful.
The saving grace is that 49ers Enterprises appear to be closing in on their takeover of the Light Blues, which could bring plenty of positive changes at the club heading into next season.
Members of the US consortium were given a tour of Ibrox during the week, and everyone associated with the club will be hoping a deal is signed, sealed and delivered sooner rather than later.
While a permanent manager is top of the to-do list, the first-team squad needs a major overhaul when the transfer window finally opens. No longer can the Gers splurge millions on players who won’t live up to expectations, nor waste wages on those who miss far too many games due to injury.
This could be seen as a change of approach in the summer. Lyall Cameron has already signed a pre-contract with the Gers, while they are also keen on bringing Josh Mulligan to Glasgow.
Signing young talents with a high ceiling appears to be the next strategy, much in a similar mould to the prior capture of Ryan Kent.
Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics
Kent signed for Rangers on an initial season-long loan deal at the start of the 2018/19 campaign. By the end of that season, he had registered 15 goal contributions – six goals and nine assists – while even punching Scott Brown during an Old Firm clash.
Not a bad way to endear yourself to the supporters, and this led to calls for Steven Gerrard to splash the cash on him permanently in the summer of 2019.
Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2022/23
44
3
10
2021/22
46
3
19
2020/21
52
13
14
2019/20
33
8
4
2018/19
43
6
9
Via Transfermarkt
The next two seasons saw Kent at his very best. A tally of 14 goals were scored, and the winger recorded an impressive 18 assists, underlining how good he had become for the club.
The 2020/21 campaign was particularly impressive. Rangers went the entire league season undefeated, securing their first title in a decade, and Kent was unplayable at times.
Kent recorded 2.3 shots per game in the top flight that term, along with creating nine big chances, averaging 1.9 key passes and succeeding with 1.9 dribbles per match for the Ibrox side.
He gave opposition defenders no chance when driving towards them at full throttle, and this is what made him arguably the best winger in the country at the time.
His final two seasons saw him score only six goals before he left the club in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract.
Those first three years saw Kent at his very best. Could a certain Bobby Clark offer the same sort of qualities from the heart of the midfield?
Rangers transfer news
During the January transfer window, the Light Blues wanted to bring Clark to the club on a short-term loan deal until the end of the campaign. He made the move to RB Salzburg in the summer of 2024 for a fee believed to be around the £6m mark, but he failed to truly settle in Austria.
Transfer Focus
No move ever materialised for the youngster, but could he be back on the market this summer?
The £3.5k-per-week starlet could be ready to leave on loan as Salzburg are keen on letting him leave temporarily for the 2025/26 season. This could put the Ibrox side on high alert following their early attempts to secure his signature.
A former Liverpool academy graduate, much like Kent, the youngster could well look to emulate his compatriot at Ibrox…
Why Rangers should sign Bobby Clark
Starting his youth career at Newcastle United – aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, Lee, who played for the Magpies – Clark ended up at Liverpool in the summer of 2021.
The youngster made his mark on the youth teams at Anfield before finally making his senior debut during the 2022/23 campaign under Jürgen Klopp.
He made 12 appearances for the Reds the following season, scoring once and grabbing two assists. His future looked bright indeed.
Journalist Lee Ryder discussed his potential in the past and compared him to a former Newcastle legend, saying Clark “reminds me a little bit of Gazza at the same age.” Which is high praise indeed.
Clark moved to Salzburg last summer, linking up with former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, although he was sacked just a few months into the role, and Clark failed to settle under new manager Thomas Letsch.
Despite his lack of game time in the Austrian Bundesliga, Clark still managed to record 0.4 shots per game, while also averaging 0.7 key passes and succeeding with 0.4 dribbles per match in the league.
Considering he averages only 41 minutes for the club domestically, these statistics aren’t the worst. If he can move to a club where playing consistently becomes a regular theme, Clark can continue his development.
A loan move to Ibrox would be an excellent chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, especially as he could feature in European competition.
Across six Champions League matches for the Austrian side this season, Clark showcased his abilities, averaging 1.7 tackles, winning 2.8 total duels and succeeding with 89% of his passes.
Playing against teams such as PSG, Atlético Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen gave Clark the chance to perform at the highest level against some of the finest clubs on the continent.
It may not have gone well for the Englishman since the start of 2025, but all he needs is a fresh start and a chance to impress.
In that regard, Rangers is the perfect place for him – as it was for Kent.
Related Rangers can revive Tavernier by hiring manager who's "a level above Gerrard"
As the 49ers continue their search to find a new Rangers manager, they should hire “one of the most promising coaches in world football”.