Leeds target Ryan Kent opens up on debt owed to Steven Gerrard and Rangers

Winger thanks Ibrox fans after stand-out performance in win over Hamilton

Rangers winger Ryan Kent in action during the Scottish Premiership win over Hamilton Academical. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Rangers winger Ryan Kent has acknowledged his debt to the Ibrox club when speaking for the first time since a £10 million bid for him from Leeds United was rebuffed.

Following the 2-0 victory over Hamilton Accies in which he was again the Ibrox men’s stand-out performer, the 23-year-old winger stopped short of committing his long-term future to the Glasgow club amid reports of the Elland Road side returning with an improved offer.

But Kent was keen to express his contentment in representing a support and, in Steven Gerrard, a manager that have embraced him since he first arrived from Liverpool, initially on loan in the summer of 2018, before joining permanently in a £7m deal a year later.

“Every time I go out on the pitch I just want to give my best for Rangers. This is a club that has given me opportunities that I’ve not had before. It’s a massive football club so I’ll continue to do right by Rangers,” said Kent who had loan spells with Coventry City, Barnsley, FC Freiburg and Bristol City before decamping to Ibrox.

“I can’t thank the fans enough, they’ve always been supportive of me even when I was on loan. It’s difficult for loan players to come into a club and be welcomed but they did that with me. That was a big incentive for coming back here, getting a feel for the size of this club.

“The fans are one of, if not the, biggest thing about this club. You don’t get fans like Rangers fans so every time I step out on the pitch it’s an honour to represent them. I’ll continue to give my best for Rangers. Where my future takes me, I’m not sure but as long as I’ve got a Rangers shirt on, I’ll give my best.

“The relationship with the manager is key, as it is for any footballer. Especially for a forward player, you need to feel comfortable and enjoy your football. I certainly do here. The coaching staff have put a lot of faith in me and a lot of work into me to get numbers into my game. That’s showing this season, I’m getting into the right areas now and putting away finishes that I wasn’t last season.

“I want to repay the manager for that backing. This is the season to do that. Steven Gerrard, the coaching staff, my team-mates, the fans, I’ll continue to do my best for them. I have high expectations of myself on the pitch so everyone can be reassured that I’ll continue to do my best for Rangers.”