Leeds United’s reported move for Ryan Kent could see the Whites end the transfer window with just one senior striker.
According to a report from Goal, talks between Leeds and Liverpool over a move for Ryan Kent are progressing well, with the Championship side potentially agreeing to pay a fee that could rise up to £10 million.
The move for Kent appears to have come about following the decision to let Kemar Roofe pursue the chance to join Anderlecht. It has not surprised Leeds fans in the slightest that Marcelo Bielsa is seemingly keen to replace last season’s top goalscorer with a winger.
Leeds Live has suggested that the Whites are also interested in loaning Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, but it appears that the club will either be able to sign Nketiah or Kent, rather than both targets. And with Goal suggesting that discussions over Kent are going well, it would appear that the Liverpool man is the more likely addition at this stage.
That would, of course, leave Bielsa with the issue of going into the coming months with just one recognised striker within his senior squad in Patrick Bamford.
The likes of Tyler Roberts, Ryan Edmondson, Kun Temenuzhkov, and perhaps even Helder Costa will be looking to provide cover. Roberts looks set to be the biggest beneficiary from Roofe’s departure, but perhaps there was a hint in pre-season that Bielsa could have another idea up his sleeve.
Jack Harrison enjoyed a brilliant summer, and he would have done his confidence the world of good on the opening day of the new season by scoring the third goal in the 3-1 win at Bristol City. He looked lively all game, and fully justified his selection ahead of marquee addition Costa.
And if Bamford is struck down during the campaign, Harrison is perhaps an outside contender to lead the line having performed the role in the 3-2 win against Girona in pre-season. It is also a role that he was deployed in on a couple of occasions – admittedly, with much less success – last season.
It is not an ideal situation to think that Leeds may need to rely on a winger to step up if Bamford is injured at any stage. But Harrison has surprised all of his critics with his form since his return to Elland Road, so perhaps he could prove to be the revelation up front that Bielsa needs with Roofe potentially being replaced by a player who seems to do his best work from a slightly deeper position.
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