Rangers Director of Football Mark Allen says that the fact that the club are involved in European football has helped them finance their move for Ryan Kent.

The winger sealed his switch from Liverpool yesterday, with the Gers paying £6.5m upfront and £1m in add-ons, and Allen says that the club are now secure enough financially to make the deal happen:

“It says a lot for the support and the vision of the board in terms of where it wants to get Rangers to. Obviously, like all businesses it needs to be done in a prudent manner.”

“And over the last few years, the board and everyone at the club, we’ve put it back on an even keel with a sensible business approach. Obviously, on the playing side, European qualification has helped us and we’re now getting to the point where Rangers is in a place where hopefully we can move forward.”

It is the most that Rangers have paid for a player since they shelled out £12m on Chelsea forward Tore Andre Flo in 2000, but the Scottish club are confident that the player will be a success after an excellent loan spell with the team last season.

The fact that Liverpool have insisted on a 20% sell-on clause also suggests that they believe Kent will grow and develop into an even better player at Ibrox.

During his time at Rangers last season, Kent made 43 appearances, scoring six goals and providing nine assists.