Leeds United backed to snap up free agent attacker after shock transfer enquiry emerges
Leeds United have been tipped as the right choice for free agent winger Ryan Kent despite a “shock” move being targeted by Leyton Orient, by Carlton Palmer.
The former Whites midfielder told Football League World on 29 October that Elland Road would be a good move for the 27-year-old after he was released from his unsuccessful spell at Fenerbahce just over a year into a four-year deal.
As soon as he came available Rangers boss Philippe Clement was asked about a possible return to Ibrox [BBC Sport, 18 October], while the Daily Mail reported on 22 October that there is interest from Saudi Arabia.
But according to the Scottish Sun on 26 October, while the Whites are “long-time admirers”, League One Leyton Orient are now enquiring over a possible deal.
Palmer said: “It’s been reported that Leyton Orient are weighing up a shock move for Ryan Kent on a free transfer. Listen, it’s one of those. Sometimes a player goes somewhere and things don’t work out. Kent joined Turkish club Fenerbache, but the 27-year-old winger – who was on a four-year contract – had his contract ripped up.
“He can now train and play for any football club in January. It just didn’t work out for him, he struggled for game time there and it was an unhappy spell for him in Turkey… He joined on a free from Rangers in 2023 and fell out of favour quickly. Apparently, Leeds United are a club looking at Kent.
“I’ve always said you’ve got to be careful with free transfers and players who are out of contract, they’re out of contract for a reason. But I think with Kent, this may well be a good move for Leeds – certainly an ambitious move for Leyton Orient.”
Leeds United to land ex-Fenerbahce and Rangers ace?
It doesn’t make a great deal of sense for Daniel Farke’s side to be in the frame for Kent at this stage, even if there may have been some interest in the past at Elland Road.
The former Liverpool youngster is now two years removed from his last campaign anywhere near top form, and he surely needs somewhere comfortable to re-find it again rather than a Leeds United side that is battling at the top of the Championship for a promotion that they can ill afford to miss a second time.
The stakes are so high in West Yorkshire that Farke’s job was being called into question only a few weeks ago, and Kent hasn’t played in England since 2018 at Bristol City.
Dropping down to the bottom end of the third tier with Leyton Orient would indeed be more of a shock, but a heated battle at the top of the second also looks unlikely.
Leeds have some enviable wide options as things stand with Largie Ramazani, Willy Gnonto and Dan James all impressing, and Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon now back from injury.
Belgian summer signing Ramazani has been ruled for six weeks with injury [BBC Sport, 25 October] and the prospect Israeli international Solomon being sent back to Spurs earlier has already been raised after an underwhelming start [Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet, 28 October].
But after years of links between the Whites and Kent not seeing a move materialise it is hard to see why the long-standing interest would be any stronger now under a new regime, unless it is entirely driven by Angus Kinnear.
Farke isn’t a fan of signing free agents and was only pressed into landing Josuha Guilavogui due to an injury crisis in midfield, so it would probably take something similar to open the door to an unlikely Kent deal.
In other Leeds United news, Farke may be deliberately inflating pre-game injury concerns to gain an advantage.
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