Leeds United to make ‘big time’ January move for Ryan Kent amid Championship transfer battle
Carlton Palmer believes Leeds United will pursue a “big time” January deal for Ryan Kent but will face competition for his signature.
The 28-year-old has been a long-term target at Elland Road and is now a free agent after Fenerbache parted ways with the forward only 16 months into his four-year contract in Turkey.
However, while the Whites are expected to tempt Kent with a move to West Yorkshire, Palmer revealed to Football League World [12 November] that Daniel Farke could miss out on landing his man with more attractive first team opportunities available in the Championship.
He said: “Listen, Preston North End are at the bottom-end of the table, while Leeds United are chasing promotion to the Premier League.
“There are going to be a lot of people who are interested in Ryan Kent. He’s not one of those players that you look at and think, ‘Right, ok, he’s not got a club at the moment because nobody wants to sign him.’
“His contract was paid up, and he can’t sign for another club until January. He’s a different kettle of fish.
“I can see Leeds moving for him big time in January, depending on their injury situation and who’s coming back.
“With the clubs that are interested in him, you want to go to clubs that are up near the top of their respective leagues.
“But also, from Ryan Kent’s point of view, he wants to play, so it might well be that teaming up with Paul Heckingbottom, going to Preston and being guaranteed playing week-in, week-out would be a better option for the player.”
Will Leeds United sign Ryan Kent?
The potential signing is certainly an attractive proposition for Leeds given his availability as a free agent and the previous interest in the former Rangers man.
Paul Robinson urged the Whites to complete the signing in the summer after news emerged Kent would be deemed surplus to requirements in Istanbul by Jose Mourinh. Still, the side is in a much different position than it was three months ago.
Yes, summer signing Largie Ramazani is still two weeks away from recovering from an ankle ligament injury but Farke is flush with attacking options at Elland Road.
Dan James and Manor Solomon have also returned to the side to compete for a starting berth alongside Wilfried Gnonto in arguably the strongest attacking competition in the Championship.
While Kent’s acquisition would be a low-risk move for the club, it is a pointless endeavor. There are no guarantees he would become a regular starter in West Yorkshire amid the competition and certainly no guarantees he could be an impactful player in the Premier League.
Leeds are now firmly back in the race to challenge for the Championship title this term and assessing the potential to perform in the top-flight must be the required criteria when targeting reinforcements.
Therefore, Farke would be best moving on from Kent with more problematic positions in need of addressing such as centre-back, with only three senior options in the first team squad.
In other Leeds United news, Dennis Cirkin transfer news has emerged for the Whites as an ‘amazing’ Sunderland deal is on the cards.
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