Revealed: Leeds bid £7m for player at PL club during summer

By Wayne Veysey and Pete O'Rourke

Leeds United bid £7million for new Rangers signing Ryan Kent during the summer before switching their attention to signing Eddie Nketiah, Football Insider understands.

Marcelo Bielsa's side held extensive talks with Liverpool about capturing the winger, 22, on a permanent deal before the Premier League and Championship windows shut in early August.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club felt they were favourites to sign Kent at that point and had offered a total of £7million including performance-related add-ons.

Liverpool had not accepted their offer but an agreement was close before manager Marcelo Bielsa made a U-turn and set his sights on recruiting Nketiah to replace Kemar Roofe following his late-window move to Anderlecht.

Leeds were already well served with wingers, including summer signing Helder Costa, Pablo Hernandez and loanees Jack Harrison and Jack Clarke, and, although Kent can play in a second striker role as well as out wide, Bielsa felt an alternative spearhead to Patrick Bamford was the priority.

Nketiah was subsequently signed from Arsenal on deadline day on a season-long loan in which the Yorkshire giants will pay the entirety of his £35,000-a-week wages as well as a significant loan fee.

Rangers announced on Monday night, the final day of the Scottish summer window, they had signed Kent on a four-year contract.

The Glasgow club will pay £7.5million for the Anfield academy product, £1million of which is made up of performance-related variables.

In other Leeds United news, Noel Whelan has REVEALED how he has spoken to Whites first teamer left 'broken' by events of last weekend.