Ryan Kent learns Fenerbahce transfer fate one year after Rangers exit as boss hits him with cutting verdict

Ryan Kent has learned what the future holds at Fenerbahce a year on from leaving Rangers, it’s claimed, ahead of the transfer window.

The winger left Ibrox as a free agent last year after five years in total at Rangers, where he won the Premiership title and Scottish Cup. Regular minutes have proven elusive though and he’s featured just 18 times over the course of this season.

Foreign player limits in the Turkish Super Lig have prompted Fenerbahce boss Ismail Kartal to remove him from their squad for most of the second half of the domestic season, with Europa Conference League action where he’s played most.

He was linked with a January exit to Lazio and Aspor state that Kent will be seeking a new club in the summer. They state “Ryan Kent, who could not be included in the squad in the second half of the league due to the foreign limit, will also say goodbye to the striped jersey..”

Kent started his career at Liverpool before a permanent Rangers move. He’s also spent time at Barnsley, Bristol City, Coventry City and Freiburg. Fenerbahce can only become champions this weekend if they beat Istanbulspor by two goals and Galatasaray lose to Konyaspor, but Kartal has gone on a media offensive pre-game.

He told BeIN Sports: "I always said 'trust this team, these players'. I think we have not embarrassed our fans and our community so far. We are behind because of external factors. I live with the hope of winning the championship.

“We have been together for a year. I am an objective person. They tried to discredit me, my team and my players. Without learning the truth, some people told lies on their behalf in order to get different jobs in different places for their careers.

“They slandered and disrespected our work. There was a constant attack on social and visual media. There is, I don't accept it. There will be criticism, but if there is constructive criticism, football will improve. This is not criticism, there is backlash. I have shattered all the statistics with the football I played every time I came to this club."

Referring to the choice of not including Ryan Kent in the list due to the foreign quota, Kartal said in a cutting assessment: "We had 15 people and 1 person was going to leave the squad. Kent received serious offers from Europe, including Lazio.

“We wanted to keep King in the squad. Kent, He said, ‘I don't want to go.’ That's how we made our choice. I always prefer a solid King. If King is healthy, he will get you a game on his own. It was unfortunate that he got injured 4 days after announcing the list."