It looks as though Ryan Kent will walk out the door at Ibrox for nothing this summer after five years at Rangers which poses the question, has he been value for money?

After an initial season-long loan, Rangers stumped up £7million to acquire his services permanently from Liverpool on transfer deadline day in September 2019.

Kent has provided moments of sheer brilliance and jaw-dropping flashes of skill but consistency has always been an issue.

The 26-year-old is Rangers’ most expensive signing since £12m was spent on obtaining Tore Andre Flo from Chelsea in 2000.

Flo is widely regarded as a flop in relation to the vast sum of cash the Norwegian cost despite a decent goals-to-games ratio. And, there's a feeling Kent has also failed to live up to his hefty price tag.

In his first season as a permanent Rangers player, Kent bagged eight goals and four assists in 34 games in all competitions.

The following season was his most productive in a Rangers jersey as Steven Gerrard’s men sauntered to the league title. 13 goals and 15 assists in 52 games was impressive but since then, the numbers have regressed.

Last term, in 46 matches he claimed 19 assists but scored just three goals and this season, the Englishman has just three goals and ten assists in 44 games.

His 44th appearance lasted just 45 minutes at Hampden before he was hooked at half-time following a dreadfully poor performance against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Speaking after the 1-0 defeat, Michael Beale was quizzed on whether it was the last time both Kent and Alfredo Morelos would be seen in a Rangers jersey, he replied: “Possibly, yes.”

With five games of the Premiership season remaining and with Kent likely heading for the exit door, it wouldn't be at all surprising if Sunday was the final time he'll represent the club.

Kent will leave having provided a scattering of memorable showings. He played a huge role in helping Rangers reach the Europa League final last year with breathtaking performances that had pundits across Europe salivating.

One can’t help but feel if he had found a way past Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp in Seville, his legacy would’ve been cemented until the end of time and articles such as this would not need to be written.

However, football is a funny old game as the cliché goes. Kent will likely divide opinion as to whether he has been value for money for some time.

Kenny Miller told the Rangers Review back in January that, unlike Alfredo Morelos, Kent hasn’t quite repaid the transfer fee paid.

“Ryan Kent’s a bit different in that they’ve paid a lot of money for him and I still think the value for money is not as great as Alfredo has been,” he said.

“Ryan’s a wonderful player and I really like him. I’m thinking, as a fan, like everybody, you want to see it on a more consistent basis.

“You want to see his flashes, not be flashes. You want these flashes to be constantly present during a game.”

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Unfortunately, those flashes have become less frequent and he now looks a shadow of the gallous player that first arrived in Govan.

His confidence looks shot and with varying links appearing ahead of the expiry of his deal, his days at Ibrox look numbered.

Of course, allowing an asset to leave without recouping any of the £7m paid is poor business practice - it simply cannot be allowed to happen again.

As for Kent, not many players leave Rangers for bigger and better things and while a potential move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce may be lucrative, it remains to be seen if he can recapture the form that had supporters chanting "Kent will tear you apart again" to the tune of the famous Joy Division track.

With a massive summer rebuild on the horizon, Rangers must ensure they make every penny count and any significant outlay must be able to deliver consistently if Beale is to topple the other team across the city.