Leeds United want to finally sign Ryan Kent from Premier League giants Liverpool – but will Championship rivals Sunderland provide competition?
Ryan Kent’s starring performance in Barnsley’s 3-2 win against Leeds United last season appeared to earn him plenty of admirers at Elland Road.
Because after Leeds attempted to sign the 21-year-old on loan from parent club Liverpool in the summer, reports in The Mirror (18th December, page 54) claim that The Whites are still hopeful that Kent will end up at Elland Road.
Liverpool sent Kent to the Bundesliga rather than England’s second tier, but that spell at Freiburg hasn’t gone to plan so far. Kent has made just six appearences in Germany’s top flight as at the date of writing – but just one of those has been from the start, and the report claims he could even be recalled in the New Year.
But with his pace, directness and individual quality, Kent would surely find first-team opportunities easier to come by at Leeds – particularly in the left-wing position that remains up for grabs.
Though Championship rivals, and fellow summer suitors, Sunderland need Kent far more. According to the Liverpool Echo, The Black Cats also wanted Kent to provide some attacking flair to their squad.
And after fellow Liverpool youngsters Danny Ward and Ben Woodburn rejected short-term moves to the Stadium of Light, Sunderland should attempt to make it third time lucky.
Despite winning two of their last four league games under Chris Coleman, Sunderland are still short on creativity in the final-third – and Kent won’t break the bank.
A move to Sunderland, then, would give Kent some play-time under his belt and The Black Cats the pacy attacker they’ve been looking for.
But Leeds have no appetite to miss out again.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
