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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark McDougall

When Ryan Kent's Rangers future could be decided as Jurgen Klopp eyes pre-season checks

Ryan Kent to Rangers is the transfer saga that looks like rumbling on throughout the summer.

Steven Gerrard is desperate to bring him back and Rangers fans would love to see pull on the light blue again after his impressive form last season.

His final product might have been criticised at times but there was no doubting what he offered the Ibrox side when he played.

The Liverpool youngster's speed and trickery was a nightmare for defenders and earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

The latest reports surrounding Kent's fate is that Leeds have joined the race to sign him, but Rangers are confident they can get him on loan for another campaign.

(SNS Group)

It's highly unlikely Ibrox side could afford a permanent deal for him without first selling Alfredo Morelos, and even then it would be a surprise if they splashed the kind of cash that is being suggested for him down south.

The 22-year-old's most likely route back to Glasgow is a loan spell and it was where he has enjoyed the best spell of his career so far.

What is known, is Jurgen Klopp wants to take a look at him pre-season before deciding what to do with him as Record Sport exclusively reported at the end of last month.

It would be a major shock if the Anfield boss kept him for the first team with little chance of him playing ahead of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane on the wings with Xherdan Shaqiri also there as back-up as well as any new signings.

So it's set to be a straight choice between a loan move or a permanent deal, and Rangers could have the upper hand on any temporary switch due to Gerrard's status at Anfield.

(Kent during his Rangers debut last season)

But when will Rangers find out? The likelihood is it's going to be around the same time as last season.

More than likely, Kent will miss the Europa League first round on July 11 and 18. Last season, he joined on July 22 and made his debut against Osijek four days later.

Klopp wanted a look at him in pre-season then as well and played him in games against Chester, Bury and Tranmere.

He scored against Chester and impressed in the other two without managing to find the back of the net.

Kent in action with Liverpool against Tranmere (Action Images via Reuters)

This season, Liverpool face Tranmere and Bradford in games before going to the US to face Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Sporting Lisbon in the International Champions Cup.

Kent is unlikely to be on the trip with the squad more streamlined to what it will be for the Premier League campaign by then.

The games at Prenton Park on July 11 and Valley Parade on July 14 are the matches Klopp is most likely to check on Kent's progress.

It's right after that when Rangers are likely to discover if Kent will return to Ibrox or be sent elsewhere.

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