Craig Scott

Sun 23 August 2020 20:40, UK

Rangers want Leeds United to stump up more cash upfront for Ryan Kent after rejecting the Premier League club’s opening £10million bid, according to Phil Hay.

Writing on The Athletic website, alongside Rangers correspondent Jordan Campbell, the former Yorkshire Evening Post reporter said that the upfront offer is viewed as an “integral part of any potential deal” by the Scottish giants.

It is understood that if Rangers sell 23-year-old Kent, they want an “immediate cash boost” to help them to secure their transfer targets as soon as possible.

Marcelo Bielsa clearly wants to sign Kent.

He likes the have plenty of options available to him in the wide positions and Kent ticks a lot of boxes in that regard as he’s super pacey, able to cut inside, can play on both wings and even in a more central forward role.

Leeds reportedly pursued a deal for the former Liverpool attacker last summer but it is understood this summer that the Whites cannot afford any delays.

As well as liking to have plenty of winger options, Bielsa likes to have his players fully accustomed to his fitness standards and his tactical system.

As seen with Jean-Kevin Augustin – if you’re not fit, you don’t start.

And, as seen with Helder Costa after he arrived last summer – if you’re not fluent with the tactics, you don’t start.

Costa eventually got a spot in Bielsa’s starting line-up several months after singing from Wolves.

Even if Leeds sign Kent on Monday, it’s unlikely Bielsa will see him ready to start against his former club Liverpool on September 12 when the Premier League season kicks off.

As Leeds don’t want any delays, there’s a chance that their pursuit of the winger could fizzle out as The Sun originally reported that the Yorkshire giants want to agree a fee with Rangers by the end of the week.

Unless they do so by the end of Sunday, that deadline has passed.

In other Leeds United news, Leeds fans are worried by this bit of transfer news that Phil Hay has relayed.