According to a recent report by The Sun, recently-promoted Premier League side Leeds United are said to be eyeing up a summer move for the services of Rangers’ exciting English winger Ryan Kent. The report suggests that Marcelo Bielsa is a big fan of the former Liverpool speedster and that he has even tried to sign him on two occasions while he was still a member of the Anfield books. Kent made the loan switch to the Ibrox permanent last summer, despite having various options to move abroad, and Leeds United are going to try and take advantage of that situation by offering him a route back to the Premier League.
Although the report has clarified that Leeds United are making a £10m bid for Rangers’ Ryan Kent, whether or not Steven Gerrard is willing to let him depart this summer remains to be seen. The Whites are said to be looking to agree on a fee with the Bears in the coming week, thereby giving them the time required to talk the player into joining them. While it has been conceded that the attacker is now settled into life in Glasgow, the transfer could come down to whether the Ibrox club accept the bid. Rangers’ handling of the Alfredo Morelos situation hints that they will be unwilling to do any business with Kent unless the price in question is truly irresistible.
How Has Ryan Kent Made A Name For Himself?
The English speedster was initially a product of the Liverpool youth system, and it wasn’t until a couple of seasons ago that he made the switch to Scotland. Although he has not been in the scene for a long, the forward’s direct style and attacking flair will make it look like he has been around the Premiership scene for the longest time.
Having earned a reputation through stints at the likes of Coventry City, Barnsley, Bristol City and even Freiburg, the attacker’s final loan move came in the form of the switch to Rangers. After impressing in his first season, the Ibrox club snapped him up on a permanent basis after a lot of haggling with Liverpool.
What Does Ryan Kent Add To This Rangers Team?
Steven Gerrard’s attacking setup requires the two advanced wide-players to put in a proper shift every time they take to the pitch. Their two main options for the role this season are Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi, and it’s safe to say that the Englishman has outdone himself in terms of contributing so far. The Romanian trickster had been acquired permanently in the summer as Gerrard looked to add more firepower to his front-line, but it’s worth considering that he still needs time to settle into playing regularly. Kent, on the other hand, has been at the Ibrox for a while now, and hence knows exactly what the manager expects.
The Englishman scored the Gers’ only goal in their opening day victory, after which he’s found the net on another occasion as well. The attacker has featured in just under fifty appearances for the Glasgow club already, picking up a decent tally of 15 goals and six assists along the way. A willing runner with the ball at his feet, Kent offers a degree of energy and enthusiasm in the final third that cannot be replicated by too many. Not only is the speedster good at timing his runs in behind, but he is also a sharp finisher of the ball, as has been on display so far this season. Taking Kent’s explosiveness out of the Gers’ attack-line could leave Gerrard’s side with gaping holes from an offensive perspective.
Leeds United Are Making A £10m Bid For Rangers’ Ryan Kent: Can Gerrard Afford To Cash In?
This summer has been an extremely busy one from a Rangers viewpoint, as they have managed to acquire some key targets with the help of the transfer market. Generally, a team that doesn’t shell out money at this rate, the Ibrox club have acquired the services of a variety of names like Leon Balogun, Cedric Itten, Kemar Roofe and even Jon McLaughlin.
If there was ever going to be a transfer window where Gerrard was forced to sell to balance the books, then this is it. An amount like £10m isn’t a small matter for Rangers, but considering Kent’s importance to the team, it’s unlikely that price will be enough. If Leeds United do up their offer in the coming days, then Gerrard could be tempted to think about it, but at £10m, it makes a lot more sense for the Gers to keep him in the squad for another season.
