Leeds United are reportedly considering making a late move for long-term transfer target Ryan Kent, who has only one year left on his Rangers deal.
According to the Daily Mail, Leeds United could reignite their interest and make a late swoop for Rangers winger Ryan Kent before Thursday’s deadline. The 25-year-old is one of the most highly sought-after players in Scottish football and is currently in the final year of his contract at Ibrox. The Englishman has yet to strike an agreement over fresh terms with Rangers.
Kent has been at Rangers since the summer of 2019 when he moved from Liverpool in a deal worth £6.5 million after 15 years with the Reds’ youth setup. Since then, the 25-year-old has turned out 180 times for the Scottish giants across all competitions, racking up 30 goals and 50 assists along the way.
The English winger was a major part of Steven Gerrard’s success with the Gers during the 2020/21 campaign and was an assist machine last term, with 19 across all competitions, where Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s troops reached the UEFA Europa League final.
Kent has made a strong start to the season, contributing three assists and helping Rangers reach the Champions League group stages, where they will face his former club, Liverpool. He has been consistently linked with Premier League moves in recent years and would have been back in England by now had it not been for Rangers’ rapid progression on the European stage, which has kept the 25-year-old in Scotland for almost the duration of his contract.
Leeds United are now reported to be considering a swoop for the English winger after failed bids in the past, with the Whites keen admirers of the tricky attacker. Leeds sought the former Liverpool forward in 2020. However, the player was content to remain at Rangers under then-manager Steven Gerrard.
The Whites failed with a £15 million approach last summer. But things could get very interesting this time around, since if Rangers reject any proposals, they risk losing Kent for nothing when his contract expires next summer. He will also be free to speak to interested suitors from January.
From the player’s perspective, the English winger may well be keen on testing his mettle on the UEFA Champions League stage after starring in the Europa League in recent years. However, Leeds could offer him a bumper contract and the opportunity to play in the English top-flight under Jesse Marsch.
Leeds’s move for Kent is likely to hinge on what happens with Daniel James, who is the subject of interest from Tottenham, with Antonio Conte keen to bring in a winger as Bryan Gil nears a move to Valencia.
A loan deal with the option to buy is apparently being touted to be in the works between the clubs, in what would be a surprise move for the 24-year-old Leeds United winger. Everton are also interested in James, but again that will depend on the domino effect of Anthony Gordon’s transfer to Chelsea. This whole transfer saga could go right down to the wire on the transfer deadline day.
