Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa has been keeping an eye on Liverpool midfielder Ryan Kent and watched the youngster in action earlier this week.
The Scottish Sun reported that Bielsa delayed his departure for Leeds’ pre-season tour of Australia to watch the 22-year-old play for Liverpool against Bradford on Sunday.
According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are still favourites to secure a loan deal for Kent, who obviously played at Ibrox last season.
However, Leeds could also be in the frame to sign the midfielder on loan, with The Scottish Sun adding that the Whites are interested in another Liverpool youngster in Harry Wilson.
Kent is now 22 but has been unable to establish himself in Liverpool’s first team. His only senior appearance for the Reds was in an FA Cup tie at Exeter in January 2016.
Since then, he has been loaned out to Barnsley, Freiburg, Bristol City and Rangers, but his performances with the latter last season were very encouraging.
Kent scored six goals in 23 Scottish Premiership games (one goal per 3.83 games) and was named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, while also being included in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.
Wilson, who is back at Liverpool after a loan spell at Derby last season, is another 22-year-old winger hoping to finally establish himself at Anfield and, like Kent, his first-team experience for the Reds extends to just a solitary FA Cup game.
The Wales international was the more prolific of the two, though, scoring 15 goals in 40 Championship appearances (one goal per 2.66 games).
Kent had the edge in terms of assists, however, setting up six goals (one assist per 3.83 games) whereas Wilson only recorded three assists (one per 13.33 games).
However, the pair still seem to have some way to go to displace Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah respectively, though. The African pair were joint top scorers in the Premier League last season with 22 goals and, while their involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations could see them being rested at times next season (Mane is set to miss the Premier League opener against Norwich, as reported by The Mirror), their scoring records suggest that they will be first choice in their respective positions once again in 2019/20.
Although Klopp has indicated that the door to the first team is open for young players in Liverpool’s squad (as reported by the Liverpool Echo), it is still very hard to see him getting many first-team opportunities this season ahead of Salah.
A loan move to Leeds or Rangers should enable him to gain more first-team experience but, with the player admitting he was tired of constantly going on loan, the time may have come for Liverpool to seriously consider any permanent offers for the player if they land on Klopp’s desk.
Liverpool fans, do you think Kent needs another season out on loan? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!
