Burnley will be tempted to reunite Steven Gerrard with Rangers favourite | OneFootball

Ryan Kent could be an option for Burnley this summer if Steven Gerrard seals the Clarets manager job

Burnley will be returning to the Championship next season after another disappointing year in the top-flight, with the future of a few things up in the air around Turf Moor.

A disappointing year for Burnley will once again see the Clarets finish in the bottom three in the Premier League for the third time in five years.

There remains a very real possibility that the Lancashire-based side could finish rock-bottom, with Wolverhampton Wanderers stirring more impressively behind them for many months now.

Head coach Scott Parker has become something of a specialist at getting teams promoted from the second tier, having done so with both Fulham and Bournemouth before Burnley, but has yet to prove himself at the highest level, and could well leave the club this summer.

Steven Gerrard is a name that has been touted to take Parker's place in the Turf Moor dugout, with the former Liverpool midfielder having been out of work since leaving Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq in January 2025.

Prior to his move to the Middle East, Gerrard spent time in charge of Liverpool's youth teams, Rangers, and Aston Villa, where he enjoyed varying degrees of success, and should he take the job in Lancashire, he may look to reunite with a former star from his time up in Scotland, who will cost them nothing.

Burnley could make a free swoop for Ryan Kent this summer if Steven Gerrard takes charge

Ryan Kent has been a free agent since leaving Seattle Sounders in January 2026, with the 29-year-old failing to make an impact during his brief spell in the MLS, and could return to England this summer.

The winger came through the ranks at Liverpool and spent time on loan with the likes of Coventry City, Barnsley, Freiburg, and Bristol City before making a permanent switch to Ibrox in 2018 after a successful loan spell with the Gers.

Rangers paid Liverpool £7 million to lure Kent north of the border, with Gerrard, incidentally, the manager who sanctioned the deal at the time.

During their time together in Scotland, Kent scored 28 and assisted 32 in 138 games across all competitions under Gerrard, playing the best football of his career under the Liverpool legend, with the pair winning the Scottish title together in 2021 during an unbeaten season.

Since then, Kent has spent time in Turkey with Fenerbahce, where his contract was mutually terminated after just 18 months, having fallen out with Jose Mourinho, before an ill-fated spell with Seattle Sounders in the MLS.

Now, the pair have the opportunity to reunite at Turf Moor this summer, with Gerrard under serious consideration to take the role at Burnley should Scott Parker depart.

At 29, Kent ought to be in the prime of his career, but having not played a lot of football over the past couple of years, there will be doubts about whether he has what it takes to consistently play in the Championship across a gruelling 46-game season.

On a free transfer, there would be little risk with the arrival of Kent, who almost certainly has more pros than cons when it comes to considering obtaining his signature.

Gerrard could make Kent his first addition if he were to take the Burnley job, and could signify the beginning of another rebuild at Turf Moor.

Steven Gerrard will be hoping to stamp his authority on the Burnley squad if he takes the job

Should Gerrard take the post at Burnley, he will almost certainly have the opportunity to stamp his authority on the club.

Coming down from the Premier League, they will already possess one of the strongest sides in the Championship, as well as one of the largest budgets, as the former Liverpool and England midfielder has the opportunity to create a side in his image.

He will no doubt have been watching Frank Lampard's success with Coventry in the hopes of emulating his former national teammates work upon his return to management, and Burnley would be an ideal fit.

The Clarets face competition from Bristol City to secure his signature, but they will be confident of getting a deal done in the event that Parker does leave.

Gerrard will be demanding success with Burnley, and signing a player he has had success with in the past would only help his cause.