Rangers: Ryan Kent is (probably) not for sale

Rangers winger Ryan Kent has alledgedly been the target of a transfer chase by newly promoted Leeds United, but let’s be honest, it probably won’t happen.

There’s nothing quite likely a freshly promoted team trying to show their fans they are doing everything in their power to not become a freshly demoted team the following year. Literally  happens every year. “We’re here to stay,” says the chairman, still at least half-cut from the celebratory bubbly. Some weeks later, an official press release comes out to that effect.

The club will “back the manager” with a “war chest” to prepare for “many years” of football at that particular level. Intentionally loose-lipped staffers drop tidbits to the press referencing a wide, and wild, range of potential transfer targets said club could be in on. It’s all a load of nonsense.

they had absolutely no intention to sign Kent and instead wanted to appease their fanbase

Exhibit A; newly promoted Leeds United and the short-lived transfer window drama of their alleged interest, and bid, on our very own Ryan Kent. The press reported that a bid of as much as £10million had been tabled for the Rangers winger, but had been shot down by Steven Gerrard as fast as it took me to type that.

Now, one of two things is happening here. First, it’s possible the whole thing is legitimate and Leeds, who average over 35,000 a week in sell-out crowds despite wallowing in the Championship for over a decade, thought 8million rising to 10 would be enough. Second, and the more likely explanation, they had absolutely no intention to sign Kent and instead wanted to appease their fanbase, giving the illusion they are doing absolutely everything to strengthen the squad.

Basically, Leeds were fully aware Rangers would knock back a £10million offer for Kent, but hey, we tried?

As mentioned before, the response from Stevie G was instant and utterly predictable, as quoted by the Daily Record;

"“The message to Leeds is the opening bid is nowhere near the valuation and the player doesn’t really have one as we don’t want to sell.We want the player to stay here, as do the board. The fans love him also and Leeds will need to respect that.They really need to think hard if they want to come in again. The message is ‘hands off’.”"

Tough words that are perfectly easy to come out with when the offer is so laughably lowball that, short of a fire sale, Rangers would never entertain it. £8million, rising to 10, for a player the Gers spent £8million on a year ago – who has since proven himself enough to warrant Premier League interest – is a joke and Leeds know it.

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The mention of “the board” by Gerrard is ominous, but that ultimately explains the dual aspect of his rant. On the one hand, their bid for Kent isn’t “near the valuation” and, on the other, “he doesn’t really have one because we don’t want to sell”. So Ryan is not for sale, but everyone has their price and Leeds have vastly missed the mark on what said price Rangers have actually set.

Here’s the rub though, do Leeds even really want or need Kent? A cursory glance at social media gives the impression that quite a few of their fans seem to find the idea a bit underwhelming. A new signing from Scotland, subliminally, doesn’t give you confidence you’ve got a Burnley beater. His name’s a bit too British sounding too. Ryani Kentaro, the Italian-Japanese international sounds fantastic though, we’ll take two!

In any case, Rangers fans have little reason to be concerned that Kent is headed to Elland Road. We’ve talked before about how the club’s financial difficulties are intentionally overblown and the board playing hardball on the squad is the proof of the pudding. If recent rumours of an increased fee of £14million are to be believed then perhaps Leeds are willing to push a door that Rangers may let open, but, as Stevie said, it’d need to be a good’un.