Report: Leeds and Aston Villa join Rangers in pursuit of Ryan Kent

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Leeds and Aston Villa have joined the race to sign Liverpool winger Ryan Kent, according to the Daily Record.

The interest will come as a blow to Rangers boss Steven Gerrard who was hopeful of taking the 22-year-old back to Ibrox again next season.

Kent was in fine form for the Gers during 2018/19. He netted six goals and registered nine assists through the campaign, claiming the PFA Young Player of the Year in the process.

A previous report from the Daily Record has claimed that Liverpool will look to recoup around £12 million for their player.

Rangers would be looking to take Kent on loan for another season, but the Reds will probably consider any permanent bids they receive too.

Aston Villa would be able to afford him permanently but Leeds, like the Gers, would probably be seeking a loan deal.

TBR Verdict

The race to land Kent looks to be hotting up.

It doesn’t really bode well for Rangers that two sizeable English clubs are plotting swoops on Liverpool for Kent.

Leeds will almost certainly need to keep their finances in check this summer, so it seems unlikely they will only attempt a loan.

Aston Villa are perhaps the biggest threat to the Gers. They will have a hefty budget to spend on new recruits after winning promotion the Premier League and that could give them the edge.

A desire to continue developing under Gerrard could be decisive. Kent played the best football of his career under the ex-Liverpool man last season and that could come into his thinking as he plots his next move.

Whoever does land the winger will get themselves a player with real potential.

He was a standout performer at Ibrox last season and could become a real Rangers legend should he pledge his future to the Glaswegian giants.