Leeds United have been handed a major transfer update in their pursuit of Rangers star Ryan Kent.
What’s the story?
Reports last summer revealed that the Gers had rejected a bid from Marcelo Bielsa’s side for the winger, and it now appears that a move won’t happen this time around either.
According to Football Insider, Leeds are set to move on from the £7.2m-rated ace and will pursue other players from their list of transfer targets.
The report adds that a new versatile wide forward is one of their top targets, although “it remains to be seen if Kent is willing to discuss an extension to his Rangers contract.”
Leeds must reconsider
After a failed move to Elland Road last summer, Kent has knuckled down this season to produce a very impressive campaign for the Gers, helping them to wrestle control of the Scottish Premiership away from Celtic.
The winger has produced a fine haul of 12 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, including netting in both Europa League knockout games against Royal Antwerp back in February.
The 24-year-old has earned rave reviews for his displays, not least from teammate Conor Goldson, who hailed him as “magnificent” and said: “He has got a lot of ability. (He is) 24-years-old, two-footed. It is not nice when he runs at you, I can tell you that personally from training. He has got everything.”
And, Neil Dewsnip, his former coach at England under-17 level, said: “He seems to relish the atmosphere, so I think he’s in the bracket of players who think ‘the bigger the better’. Ryan is very exciting so, when he’s good he’s devastatingly good. But that’s a trait of a lot of wide players. The challenge is to be consistent and I’m sure that’s what Steven and his staff will be working to achieve.”
Labelled a “constant threat” by Gers boss Steven Gerrard, Kent seemingly has everything to be a real success at Leeds, and exactly why the likes of Bielsa and the club’s transfer committee should potentially reconsider their transfer stance on him.
With Raphinha already showing the kind of damage one winger can do, having Kent on the opposite flank could give the Whites an incredible tandem to unleash on opposition defences.
Full of pace, trickery and end product, the £20k-a-week earning Kent should surely be a must-sign.
Meanwhile, Leeds are interested in signing this “Rolls-Royce of a player”…
