Why Sheffield United should sign Kai Kennedy as one for the future
According to the Daily Record, Sheffield United have been credited with an interest in highly-rated Rangers academy prospect Kai Kennedy, who is expected to depart Ibrox before the summer deadline.
As per the report, the 18-year-old has only one year left to run on his current deal north of the border and has so far refused to put pen to paper on fresh terms amid concerns over a route to first-team football.
Top European clubs like Roma, Man City, Bayern Munich have been linked with the attacking midfielder in the past after he caught the eye for Rangers’ U-17 side in the club’s triumphant Alkass Cup campaign back in 2017. (h/t Daily Record)
Profile
Kai Kennedy joined Rangers’ youth ranks back in 2019 and has since come through the ranks in the academy. The teenager impressed for the Gers’ U-21 side in the Scottish Challenge Cup last year, registering 3 assists in 6 appearances. He also caught the eye for the U-19s in the UEFA Youth League.
The 18-year-old was handed his senior professional debut by Steven Gerrard as a substitute in a Scottish Cup game against Stranraer back in January and was allowed to train with the first-team during the pre-season this summer. However, he was sent back down to the reserves following a dispute over contract and game time.
Essentially a left-winger by trade, Kennedy has also represented Scotland across various underage levels and currently has 4 caps for his nation’s U-19 side.
Sheffield United could benefit from Kennedy’s potential
Sheffield United have already signed some exciting young players this summer. Highly-rated Mali U-20 international Ismaila Coulibaly was roped in from Norwegian club Sarpsborg and he has since been loaned out to Beerschot in the Belgian top-flight.
The Blades have also raided the EFL Championship for burgeoning homegrown talents like Jayden Bogle and Max Lowe while also completing a loan deal for Chelsea starlet Ethan Ampadu. Aaron Ramsdale, who is widely regarded as one of the best young goalkeepers in England, arrived from Bournemouth for a hefty fee earlier in the window.
Suffice to say, Sheffield United have invested in some top-quality young talent with one eye on the future and Kai Kennedy could be yet another exciting addition to the ranks at Bramall Lane.
The 18-year-old, who has only made one senior appearance for Rangers, certainly isn’t ready to make the step up to the Premier League just yet. The Blades, though, should look at him as someone with the potential to reach great heights in his professional career moving forward.
Kennedy has earned rave reviews at the youth level while his past links with elite clubs like Man City and Bayern Munich are a testament to the teenager’s qualities.
Read more
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Verdict
Chelsea have benefitted hugely from the acquisition of Billy Gilmour from Rangers’ academy a few years back, with the Scottish starlet carving out a name for himself as a top young talent in the Premier League.
Kai Kennedy seems to be a player in a mould similar to Gilmour and Sheffield United raiding the Gers for one of their prized academy assets could pay off handsomely for their long-term plans.
