Celtic legend destroys Rangers fans’ claims about Ryan Kent
Celtic legend and BT Sport pundit, Chris Sutton, has blasted Rangers fans’ for claiming that the Deadline Day signing of Ryan Kent makes them the favourites for the Premiership title over Celtic.
Ryan Kent enjoyed a successful season-long loan at Rangers in 2018/19, scoring 6 goals and assisting a further 6 in his 43 appearances for the club. Obviously manager Steven Gerrard was impressed by the youngster’s performances during his loan spell and chased his signature all summer long as he looks to bring back the title to Ibrox after it being at Celtic Park for eight straight seasons. Finally, Rangers shelled out £7 million on transfer Deadline Day to sign him from Liverpool on a permanent basis.
While the winger is a brilliant player in his own right, some Rangers fans’ claims of his signing turning them into title favourites struck a nerve with Chris Sutton. The Celtic legend and current BT Sport pundit even went as far as to term the signing as a ‘panic buy’ from the Glasgow club after a 2-0 loss at Ibrox to Celtic the day before the big money signing of Kent.
Rangers were rightfully delighted with the signing of the 22-year-old from Liverpool, but the fact is that £7 million is a lot of money to pay for someone in Scottish football and for that kind of money, clubs expect a player who will be a game-changer week in, week out in the same vein as someone like Odsonne Edouard. And in his solitary season in Scottish football, the winger is yet to show that level of consistency.
While speaking with the Daily Record, Sutton said:
"“If Rangers signing the winger from Liverpool wasn’t down to sheer panic in the wake of the defeat to Celtic last Sunday, then I don’t know what is.“Kent is a good player. I even suggested at the end of last season that Celtic should try to get him to boost the squad.“But it seems that, in the eyes of the Rangers supporters, Kent’s signing is a game changer. The last-ditch transfer window strike which is going to tilt the title odds back in their favour.“At best, that is optimistic. At worst, it’s bordering on hysterical.”"
Kent’s talent is unquestionable and he did very well last season at Ibrox, but Sutton is quick to question whether he can immediately tilt the balance of power in Scotland from the Green side of Glasgow to the Blue:
"“I’ve no axe to grind with Kent. He’s got talent and did well in the games against Celtic last season when he was on loan.“He tortured Mikael Lustig in one and scored in another. But that Parkhead strike was his only one in the last four months of the season.“I’d imagine he’ll make a positive contribution to Steven Gerrard’s team, but is he going to be the difference in the race for the league flag? I’d doubt it.”"
One thing is for sure though, when Rangers visit Celtic Park in late December, they’ll pose a much bigger threat with Ryan Kent in the line-up than they did in their 2-0 defeat at Ibrox last Sunday.