Ryan Kent neither hopes nor expects to leave Rangers in this transfer window despite interest from Leeds United.
The 23-year-old has long been admired by Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road and a bid went into Ibrox, around the £10m mark, last month.
However, the Gers knocked the bid back before manager Steven Gerrard addressed the speculation head-on in a press conference, making it clear Kent would not leave easily.
In the days since that first bid, the Whites turned their attention to forward Rodrigo and defender Robin Koch, who were each confirmed at a combined £40m outlay on August 29.
Director of football Victor Orta and his recruitment department have regrouped since those major signatures with attention now, reportedly, on Udinese’s Rodrigo De Paul and Dinamo Zagreb’s Josko Gvardiol.
At some point in the past week, LeedsLive understands Kent and his representatives have made it clear to Orta the wide man would not currently be receptive to a switch south.
The relationship between Kent’s camp and Orta remains very friendly and the player is keen for the director of football not to feel like he is being led on.
Kent is in fine form with Rangers, the club which finally pried him from Liverpool’s grasp, and has become something of a talisman for the Glasgow giants in the early weeks of the Scottish Premiership term.
Gerrard and Rangers, naturally, do not want to lose Kent, but understand every player has their price.
It remains to be seen whether Orta and United test that theory with a second bid, but regardless of what the Premier League side offer, it’s understood Kent wants to stay put, during this window at least.
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