The journalist following Leeds United’s reported interest in Rangers winger Ryan Kent is claiming the Yorkshire club are set to up their offer to £14m.
Alan Nixon, via the Sun, is claiming that the newly-promoted Premier League outfit are set to test Rangers’ resolve with another offer this week after a reported £10m was chucked out by the Gers.
The Scottish journalist also believes that Leeds will double Ryan Kent’s wages in an attempt to lure him back down south.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard also demanded Marcelo Bielsa’s side took the interest more seriously and entered a substantially higher bid if they wanted the player.
The Ibrox club believes that Leeds’ initial offer for the player is “way, way off” their valuation of the tricky winger.
Whilst Rangers do not want to sell Kent – and the player is settled in Glasgow – Leeds can test the Gers with an offer they cannot refuse.
“The message for sure is ‘hands off’,” said Gerrard [Rangers].
“Ryan is a player we admire very much here. He’s a player we’ve seen develop at Liverpool for a long time then brought him here and he did ever so well on loan.
“We went and bought Ryan and showed a lot of faith in him and he’s progressing very, very quickly here.
“He’s in a good place and a player we want to keep hold of.
“But yes we have had contact from Leeds and an opening bid has been really strongly rejected.
“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,” added Gerrard.
“We do not want to lose Ryan. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to build here. We want him to stay for many, many years.
“But you know that Premier League teams hold a lot of power and that’s the reality. We have to accept that.
“But the message to Leeds is the opening bid is nowhere near the valuation and the player doesn’t really have one as we don’t want to sell.”
Rangers fans praised Ryan Kent after he blocked out the speculation and put in a MOTM performance in the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.
The Ibrox wide man was central to the club’s performance against Killie and scored the second goal in the comfortable victory.
