Leeds ‘dealt transfer blow ahead of Premier League return as Ryan Kent tells Steven Gerrard he wants to STAY at Rangers’ after Ibrox side rejected an opening bid from Marcelo Bielsa
- Ryan Kent has made a fast start to the season, scoring three goals in six games
- Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has had a first bid rejected for the 23-year-old winger
- Steven Gerrard insisted that he has no desire to sell one of his top talents
Ryan Kent has told Steven Gerrard and Rangers he has no intention of leaving Ibrox and joining Premier League side Leeds.
That’s according to The Sun, who say that Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is preparing to make an improved £14m bid for the 23-year-old winger.
Rangers snubbed Bielsa’s opening offer, believed to be in the region of £10m and Gerrard made it clear he has no desire to sell the former Liverpool player he bought for £6.5m in 2019.
Ryan Kent has reportedly told Steven Gerrard he wants to stay at Rangers this season
Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds have had an opening bid rejected for the 23-year-old attacker
‘The message is hands off,’ Gerrard told reporters on Friday. ‘Ryan is a player we want to keep hold of.
‘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.’
But Gerrard will be heartened by Kent choosing to stay at Rangers as he conceded last week that the lure of the Premier League could prove to be too strong for Kent.
‘Ryan is a player we admire very much here and we have seen him develop,’ Gerrard added.
Kent has made an impressive start to the Scottish season with three goals in six matches
Steven Gerrard is determined to keep hold of the player as he looks to dethrone Celtic
‘He is progressing very quickly and is a player we want to keep hold of. We very quickly rejected an opening bid that was nowhere near his valuation.
‘We want the player to stay here, as do the board. The fans love him also and Leeds will need to respect that, they need to really think hard if they want to come in again. We will always put up a tough fight to keep the top talent here at Rangers.’
Kent has made a fast start to the season in Scotland, scoring three goals in five games for Rangers who lead the Scottish Premiership.