Leeds United and Sheffield United are amongst the Championship sides chasing a loan deal for Liverpool winger Ryan Kent.
Kent joined Bundesliga side Freiburg on loan in the summer, but he goes into 2018 having only made six appearances for the club in the top flight, and starting on just one occasion.
The 21-year-old’s fortunes in Germany mean that the Reds may well consider letting him leave for another club in January, with Championship quartet Leeds, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Derby County all keen on taking Kent on a temporary basis, according to The Sun on Sunday.
However, it does not appear that it will be a simple deal to pull off. The Sun on Sunday (print edition; 31st December 2017; page 61) reports that Liverpool have been left frustrated with how little their youngsters have played while out on loan, and will look for a large six-figure fee to be agreed in any future deals involving their starlets.
The Reds want to receive that fee if their players do not play enough – and that may perhaps leave Thomas Christiansen and the other managers wondering whether it makes sense to look to bring the wide-man in this month.
In Leeds’ case, the Whites already boast a number of options in attacking areas. And while most of those players have endured difficult spells at various stages throughout the campaign, the likes of Pablo Hernandez, Pawel Cibicki and Gjanni Alioski have shown that they have the quality to keep their teammates out of the team for long periods.
Kent is clearly talented, but his frustrating time in Germany may make it difficult for the Liverpool academy graduate to hit the ground running if he does head elsewhere in January, so perhaps it may be fair to suggest that it would be something of a gamble for the likes of Leeds, Derby, Boro or the Blades to pursue a deal when they could ultimately have to pay a large six-figure fee if it does not work out.
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