Of all the targets that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa identified for this season, only Ryan Kent escaped his clutches.
Ben White, the returning Jack Harrison and Helder Costa are all at Elland Road but it was Liverpool’s stance over Kent that saw him remain at Anfield. The Reds wanted nothing other than an outright sale that would see winger Kent leave the club on a permanent basis.
Leeds United were interested to the point of Marcelo Bielsa seeing him play live against Bradford City in a pre-season friendly. There were even reports that Bielsa and Klopp had met at the game. With the deadline approaching, United were still trying to bring Kent in but, as the player rosters show, that wasn’t to be the case.
22-year-old Kent has played at Sky Bet Championship level before, 54 games in loan spells split between Bristol City (2017/18 – 10 games – two assists) and Barnsley (2016/17 – 44 games – three goals/three assists). However, it was his form for Scottish giants Rangers in last season’s SPL competition that garnered Leeds’ attention.
Yet, Jurgen Klopp made it very clear that there was to be no loan deal again, stating that it wasn’t in the best interests of either club or player. That decision is something that hasn’t sat well with Ryan kent according to Sun reporter Alan Nixon on Twitter.
Kent not a happy boy by all accounts. Been some interest in Europe. But no buys and that’s what Liverpool want. Even a loan with a buy guaranteed not working. So it’s a problem that has yet to be solved. https://t.co/0mgqlshE8o
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) August 27, 2019
It is easy to see just why Ryan Kent would be more than a little annoyed at effectively being forced to stay at Liverpool because the only deal they will sanction is a permanent sale. There is little to no chance of him forcing his way into the star-stacked line-up at Anfield, meaning his exposure to football will be in the likes of the Premier League 2 competition of runs out in the early rounds of cup competitions.
For a player exposed to regular football on loan deals away from Liverpool, will early cup rounds and second-tier representation be enough? Not by the sounds of it according to Alan Nixon.
