The more online members of the Leeds United fanbase have probably seen the memes by now.
Whenever a once-great player joins a new club and struggles to recapture the glory of old, social media is swamped by pictures of Rio Ferdinand posing in the blue and white hoops of QPR. Of a portly Eden Hazard plodding his way down the touchline, his Real Madrid shirt hugging just that little bit too tightly.
Steven Gerrard at LA Galaxy. Wayne Rooney at Derby County. You get the idea.
If there is a transfer equivalent of such a phenomenon, meanwhile, it is probably the reports that Leeds United submitted a £2.5 million bid to sign Ryan Kent from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce during the summer of 2024.
A rumour which felt as out of date as, well, Rio Ferdinand in a Queens Park Rangers kit.
Marcelo Bielsa wanted Leeds United to sign Ryan Kent from Rangers
Yes, Ryan Kent had reportedly been on Leeds United’s radar for around half a decade – first linked after a loan spell down the road at Paul Heckingbottom’s Barnsley in 2016/17 – but the winger is no longer the same fleet-footed force who helped break Celtic’s domination of the domestic scene during a fine spell at Rangers.
Then-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard would confirm, back in 2020, that Leeds had seen a £10 millionb offer turned down.
“The message is hands off,” Gerrard said. “Yes, we’ve had contact from Leeds. An opening bid has been strongly rejected. They are way, way off with that opening bid. That’s the truth and the reality. He’s a player who is not for sale.”
“We want the player to stay here, as do the board. The fans love him also and Leeds will need to respect that.”
One year later, after the £15 million-rated Kent helped fire Rangers to the title with 13 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, Leeds reportedly tried and failed to bring an overdue end to this most long-running transfer sagas at the behest of Marcelo Bielsa.
Given how his time at Ibrox would end – Ryan Kent was released in 2023 upon the expiry of his contract and following a dramatic dip in form – Rangers would surely have cashed in knowing what they know now.
As for Kent himself, the 28-year-old Liverpool academy graduate is a free agent after making just one Super Lig start in Fenerbahce colours. An opportunity Leeds United would have grabbed with both hands only a couple of seasons ago, well, let’s just say the Yorkshire giants are keeping their distance these days.
No room for Ryan Kent at Elland Road amid Iran links
While Daniel Farke has the luxury of choosing between Manor Solomon, Dan James, Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani, Ryan Kent remains unemployed 12 months after Hull City turned up their noses and questioned his ‘desire’.
A move to Iranian outfit Persepolis had been mentioned, albeit seemingly due to their relaxed exotic pet laws rather than the lure of life in Tehran. Ryan Kent owns crocodiles, you see. Of course he does.
With his chin-strap beard and French crop hairdo, Kent already has that late-90s rap/grunge visage down to a tee. And a pet alligator only completes a look which would not have looked out of place on prime-time MTV.
Things have gone quiet with regards to Kent’s rumoured switch to the Middle East, however. According to Iranian publication Rokna, Persepolis have shifted their focus to Leon Dajaku; the one-time Sunderland winger and Bayern Munich prospect currently plying in Croatia with Hajduk Split.
Before you ask, those looking to legally own a crocodile on UK soil must first secure a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.
Yet, pet croc or not pet croc, Leeds United’s long-running interest in Ryan Kent is unlikely to be something revisited any time soon.
Leeds United dodged a bullet as £15m winger Marcelo Bielsa wanted finds himself without a club
