Coventry City are closing in on the loan signing of Liverpool youngster Ryan Kent according to Coventry Telegraph. Boss Tony Mowbray has been searching for a replacement to injured playmaker James Maddison.
With Maddison restricted to the sidelines for several months with a serious ankle injury, former Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion manager Mowbray looks to have identified England Under-20 forward Kent as his next signing. Mowbray expects a deal to be concluded in the coming days,
“He’s a young player who we have noted an interest with Liverpool. It might have a day or two to run yet but I would be hopeful of trying to close the deal. We’ve watched him for a while and he’s my type of footballer really.
He’s a bit whispy but he can come in and do what James isn’t going to be able to do for the next four or five months. He can handle the ball, play off both feet, travel with the ball and play anywhere behind the main striker, so it makes sense.
He’s a young boy who has got a bit of pedigree because you know when they come from a big club that they’ve had a good upbringing. He’s only an 18-year-old boy but we’ve got young boys in the team anyway so we know that if they’re in the right environment they can flourish.”
Kent is highly-regarded at Anfield and signed a four-and-a-half year deal back in March following his impressive displays with the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League and also with the Under-21 side. Coventry do have competition for his signing but they appear to be frontrunners. Swindon Town did express an interest however at the time Reds boss Brendan Rodgers wanted his player to move to a Championship club on loan.
Liverpool Under-21 boss Michael Beale describes Kent as a ‘really exciting player and can play in a number of positions’. He also suggested he was the ‘star player’ in the U21 squad and his versatility at being able to play out wide on either flank, as a second striker in the hole and even as a holding midfield player would only benefit a squad such as Coventry.
