Carlton Palmer: Leeds United won’t give up on pursuing Ryan Kent
Leeds United retain an interest in Rangers attacker Ryan Kent, and Carlton Palmer believes his former club will not give up in his pursuit.
According to The Athletic, the winger is still very much on the Whites radar.
Leeds failed with a couple of bids for the 24-year-old last summer, with head coach Marcelo Bielsa a huge admirer of his qualities [The Athletic].
It remains to be seen whether the Elland Road outfit will return to the negotiations table with the Scottish Premiership giants this summer, but Palmer insists a move should not be ruled out despite last summer’s failure to land him.
“They’ve been linked with him and he’s a talented player,” the ex-Leeds man told Football Transfer Tavern.
“All you can do is keep tracking the player.
“Howard Wilkinson said when I went to Leeds United he was tracking me for two years. I don’t think you ever give up. If you identify a player that you want, you just keep going.
“You never give up on a target that you really want, you just wait for the opportunity where you may be able to get him out.”
A top attacker
As The Athletic journalist, Phil Hay revealed last August, Bielsa’s analysis of Kent has created a lasting interest at Leeds, with the fact that the winger is versatile enough to play centrally as he does at Rangers a quality the Argentine is very much keen on him.
Given the nature of most promising players to leave the Scottish top-flight for the top European leagues, we believe Kent has the desire to play in the Premier League as he has unfinished business here having failed to make the grade while at Liverpool.
However, a move might not happen this summer with Rangers just two qualifying rounds away from the group stages of the Champions League.
Steven Gerrard’s side would play in the Europa League or the Europa Conference League should they fail to make it to Europe’s elite competition, and with a title defence also to look forward to, we reckon Kent would be keen to spend at least one more season at Rangers.
Leeds could do with his quality after he ended last term with 10 goals and nine assists across all competitions, but we do not have a realistic chance of luring him away from Ibrox this summer.
At the moment, signing another attacker does not look to be a priority for us given the options available at Bielsa’s disposal, and it is safe to say fans should not be expecting Kent walking through the Elland Road doors anytime soon.
In other Leeds news, Kalvin Phillips has sent four word message after recently-departed Whites ace joins new club.