Pundit feels change of agent could pave way for Ryan Kent move

Kevin Phillips feels Ryan Kent may be eyeing a winter exit from Rangers, with Leeds United a possible destination for the winger.

Kent, 24, moved to Ibrox on a season-long loan in the summer of 2018. He performed well north of the border, with six goals and nine assists from 43 appearances in all competitions.

Having returned to parent club Liverpool for pre-season in 2019-2020, the Gers then snapped him up on a permanent deal. An initial fee of £6.5 million was enough to prise the midfielder away from Anfield on a four-year deal.

The Oldham-born ace impressed last term with eight goals from 33 outings and he has not let up this season. Steven Gerrard’s side are currently nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership standings. Kent has played his part, starting all 14 league games and scoring four goals.

The Glasgow giants will not want to lose him and are hoping to tie him down to a new deal. However, he has recently changed agents, with his family now in charge of affairs.

Former England striker Phillips believes it is a clear signal that the player wants to engineer a move elsewhere.

“Definitely,” he told Football Insider. “We have seen it with players swapping agents before. There is a reason when a player swaps an agent.

“I am still with the same agent I was when I first started the game so the only reason you would swap agents is if you are not happy with them. If they are not doing what you ask them to do which could potentially be that he wanted to move in the summer.”

Leeds had a £10m offer rejected by Rangers this summer after it was revealed Kent has a £20m release clause.

Marcelo Bielsa is a known admirer, having watched him play for Liverpool in a pre-season friendly against Bradford City. That was in the run-up to the 2019-20 campaign and it may be that the Argentinian tries again in January.

Phillips feels there is every chance that Leeds will look to lure him to Elland Road in the new year.

“I am only second-guessing but there is never smoke without fire,” he added. “There is always a reason a player changes agent so it would not surprise me if something was to materialise in the January window at Leeds or somewhere else.

“It will be interesting to see how that one unfolds.”

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