Rangers to remain in dialogue with Liverpool over potential deal for Ryan Kent

The Englishman has impressed for Steven Gerrard’s side since making the move to Ibrox on loan in the summer and turned in his best performance of the campaign in the Old Firm win over Celtic last month.

Kent admitted after the derby victory that he would be open to remaining with the Light Blues beyond the end of the current campaign and Director of Football Allen is pleased with how the 22-year-old has adapted to Scottish football.

He said: “That is a case in point of some settling quicker, better, faster than others and Ryan seems to have settled very well. He is familiar with the coaching staff, he has worked with them before during his Liverpool career.

“We would certainly like to pursue what we do next with Ryan but that is a conversation we have to have with Liverpool Football Club. He is their player.

“Listen, we have a very good relationship with Liverpool Football Club and I think it is dialogue that will continue for the foreseeable future.

“I think they would be happy, I don’t want to speak for Liverpool, but I am sure they would be happy with the way that Ryan is settled and performing and maybe would see us a good vehicle for their players to give them much needed experience

“You are always conscious of [him attracting interest] but I come back to the fact that it is very obvious to everyone that Ryan is playing well.

“That means he is settled in my opinion and there are a lot of things that go into that so that players are settled in their environment.

“Maybe Ryan himself is feeling that this is good for him too. It is a collective, there is no single thing that decides do you keep him or release him. It is a combination.”

Boss Gerrard has put new recruits Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis through their paces at Rangers’ training base in Tenerife this week.

American midfielder Matt Polster has also been given a chance to impress but Rangers have ended their interest in countryman Andrew Gutman.

Switches have been completed for Jordan Jones and Glen Kamara, however, after they agreed pre-contract deals on four-year contracts.

Allen said: “That has been in the offing, it is no secret and we all know when contracts expire.

“If you are sensible about your planning, you know the appropriate time to make those moves, which we did in conjunction with all the rules and regulations.

“The great thing about them is that we know a lot about them. We have watched them, we have tracked them, we have played against them and we feel that they are two players who can add to the quality of the squad we are trying to put together.”