Rangers legend Stuart McCall believes the Scottish Premiership champions should do everything in their power to stop Ryan Kent leaving for Leeds United, as he told Sky Sports.
When Marcelo Bielsa likes you, he really, really likes you.
Ever since this enigmatic Argentine shuffled through the doors at Elland Road during the summer of 2018, he has latched onto Ryan Kent like a particularly stubborn limpet on a very comfortable rock.
Leeds have tried and failed to sign the former Liverpool winger on numerous occasions but, clearly, the Premier League entertainers have not given up just yet.
The Sun reported two weeks ago that Bielsa has instructed Victor Orta, Leeds’ cult hero director of football, to make a £15 million move for a man who played a major role in Rangers’ first Premiership title in a decade.
But McCall believes that, if Steven Gerrard wants to establish Rangers as the dominant force of Scottish football while making further progress on the continent, retaining Kent is an absolute must.
“Left foot, right foot, (he can) score and create goals. I think you can always get solid defensive players in a structure but when you are looking to go break down teams or hit on the counter Ryan Kent is terrific at doing that,” said McCall, who won five league crowns at Ibrox in the ‘90s before returning as manager in 2015.
“I think he would be a big loss.”
“In tight games, European games when somebody can do something different, isolate players and go by people, (that person) would be Ryan Kent.
“I think he is the one standout attacking wise that can do something.”
With 12 goals and 13 assists to his name across 2020/21, the second-most expensive signing in Rangers’ history has certainly added a ruthless streak to his game, silencing those who felt that he let opponents off the hook more often than not.
Fortunately, with Champions League football on the way, the Gers will be in a position of real strength if Leeds come calling again.
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