Revealed: Leeds submit major bid for Premier League player

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Published on:

06 Aug 2019, 7:20 am

EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey

Leeds United have stepped up their pursuit of Ryan Kent by submitting a bid to Liverpool worth £7million including add-ons, Football Insider understands.

Marcelo Bielsa's side are hopeful of signing the versatile winger, 22, before Thursday's transfer window cut-off after selling Kemar Roofe to Anderlecht.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club are in talk with Liverpool over the structure of the deal and have tabled an offer for Kent in the last 24 hours.

The two clubs remain in discussions over the transfer, with Leeds keen to make an initial payment with the remainder made up of variables, including a payment dependent upon promotion.

Liverpool are holding out for £10million for Kent, who they have made clear they would rather sell permanently this window rather than offload in the sixth consecutive loan spell of his nomadic career.

The Merseysiders also have interest in the attacker from Rangers, but they do not have the financial power to sign the Anfield academy product permanently.

Leeds have gone into transfer overdrive after a quiet summer in which the only senior arrivals have been on loan or loan-to-buy deals.

Football Insider revealed last month that the club had reignited their interest in Kent and were intensifying their pursuit of the winger last weekend.

Talks have subsequently progressed, with the sale of Roofe to Anderlecht for around £6million providing Leeds with the cash to make a late-window splurge.

United would rather sign Kent on a loan-to-buy deal, but those are not terms that the Champions League holders are likely to accept.

In other Leeds United news, Marcelo Bielsa is freezing out senior outfield international and wants him gone this month.

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