, Leeds United failed in Ryan Kent hunt – one issue scuppered deal

Leeds United failed in Ryan Kent hunt – one issue scuppered deal

Marcelo Bielsa set out his transfer targets for Leeds United in this window before it had actually opened. He wanted four, in the end, he got three.

Bielsa and Leeds United brought in Helder Costa, Ben White and Jack Harrison from that desired quartet, only one of the named foursome failing to materialise as a Whites player. That target – that was Ryan Kent from Liverpool.

Legendary Argentinian coach Bielsa had watched the 22-year-old Liverpool flyer personally when he turned out as the left-sided attacker in a three-pronged Liverpool attack against Bradford City in a pre-season friendly. Suitably impressed, there were stories of him and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp meeting face-to-face.

Yet, amongst Ilhan Meslier and  Eddie Nketiah arriving at Elland Road this afternoon, the big news was that Ryan Kent wasn’t arriving. This was despite the Whites leaving the #7 shirt free in what some saw as a possible hint towards his arrival at Elland Road.

Now, Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke gives a degree of detail behind today and includes the big obstacle that stopped Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa landing the last of their pre-planned summer targets. O’Rourke said that Leeds made “several offers” for Kent but the big sticking point was the fee that Liverpool expected them to meet.

In the end, and to be quite base about it, Leeds United couldn’t match what Liverpool were asking for in regard to Ryan Kent and a permanent deal away from Anfield. According to O’Rourke, ‘a source close to Leeds’ said that the Whites “could not meet Liverpool’s valuation of £7million” and it was a figure that the Reds were steadfastly sticking to.

So, with Meslier and Nketiah, Leeds United’s summer transfer business is closed and it’s a long four months or so until the winter window opens in January.

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