Leeds get huge Ryan Kent boost as with Alfredo Morelos set for Rangers stay
Leeds United appear to have been handed a major boost in their bid to sign Ryan Kent from Rangers with the winger linked yet again with a move to Elland Road.
Last week, The Sun reported Leeds are ready to make a third attempt to sign Kent, 24, from the Scottish Premiership champions.
It is understood Marcelo Bielsa is keen on a £15million swoop for the former Liverpool attacker, who’s scored 12 goals and supplied 13 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions this season at Ibrox.
Bielsa loves to have plenty of wide options in his squad and as Kent is someone who he’s clearly a fan of, it would be great for him if the Whites can finally land the Oldham-born ace ahead of next season.
Rangers are going to be forced into selling some of their prized assets in the summer too.
Speaking in December, their managing director Stewart Robertson said at an AGM, via FourFourTwo: “We know for the business model of the club we need to start moving one or two players a year.”
Rangers posted a loss of £15.9million last year and that is unsustainable for a club playing in Scotland.
They need to sell.
When you think about the most valuable players at Ibrox, you think of Kent and you also think of their star striker Alfredo Morelos.
However, an update by The 4th Official reports that Morelos wants to stay at Rangers for another season, regardless of how his current contract negotiations pan out.
Of course, Rangers could sell other players away from Kent and Morelos to offset their losses but if Leeds want Kent in a £15million deal and the Scottish club is losing £15.9million a year, it’s safe to say they could solve their issue with one sale.
Kent has proven himself to be a top player this season at Rangers.
In November, Steven Gerrard paid tribute to the winger via the Glasgow Evening Times.
He said: “People judge Ryan on goals and assists and, of course, we do to a certain degree but we also judge him on his application on a daily basis. He’s in magnificent shape. He trains extremely hard in the gym and on the training pitch.
“He’s professional, selfless for the team. People often wonder why we have so much faith and why he plays a lot of games. It’s because – in and out of possession – he totally gets what we’re trying to do in terms of our philosophy.
“He does a lot of work that people probably don’t notice in terms of blocking lines and being in the right place in regaining the ball.
“He’s aggressive as a winger, which is rare. I’m a huge fan of Ryan Kent. He can go again, for sure, and it’s imperative that we keep him at this football club if we stay true to what we all want, which is success.”
Kent has shown that he can score goals and create them at Ibrox this season and we’d love to see what someone of his directness and pace can do in a Leeds United team managed by a manager who’s clearly a big fan.
In other Leeds United news, Nigel Martyn blasted this player after the 1-1 draw with Liverpool.