In demand /Leeds want Rangers winger Kent in time for new season
Leeds United want to sign Rangers winger Ryan Kent in time for the new Premier League season kicking off on 12 September.
Marcelo Bielsa, manager of the Elland Road club, is a long-term admirer of the player and tried to sign him twice while Kent was at Liverpool.
Leeds, who are back in the top flight after a 16-year absence, would have to stump up upwards of £10 million to persuade Rangers to sell the popular wideman.
The Ibrox club paid £7m to sign Kent from Liverpool last summer after he impressed on loan for Rangers during the 201819 season when he was voted PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year.
Rangers may look to sell having recently spent a combined total of £7m on strikers Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.
Rangers midfielder Greg Docherty is close to completing a £400,000 switch to Hull.
The former Scotland Under-21 cap spent Tuesday at London’s Harley Street Hospital undergoing a medical and will officially move to the Sky Bet League One club today.
The 23-year-old will put pen to paper on a three-year deal – with the option of a fourth – after being told he no longer has a role to play at Ibrox.
Tigers boss Grant Mccann made Docherty a key target after the former Hamilton youngster was given a glowing reference by Mccann’s exnorthern Ireland team-mate Steven Davis.
Hull were relegated from the Championship last month but Docherty has been reassured by Mccann that he plans to lead his side back to England’s second tier at the first attempt.
The move to the KCOM Stadium is a fresh start for the boyhood Rangers fan and a chance to kickstart a stalling career.
Docherty made his dream move to Ibrox in 2018 after the club agreed a £680,000 fee with Accies. But while he was initially a regular starter under Graeme Murty, he found himself on the fringes once Steven Gerrard took over.
Docherty had hoped a successful season-long loan at Shrewsbury – where he was named the League One outfit’s player of the year – would enhance his chances back in Glasgow.
But he again struggled to force his way past the likes of Ryan Jack, Davis, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo and spent the second half of last term with Hibernian. And Gerrard made it clear after Sunday’s draw with Livingston that Docherty’s time at Ibrox was up.
The Rangers boss – who has also allowed Ross Mccrorie to depart to Aberdeen this week, with Jamie Murphy and Jordan Jones also likely to be on their way should the club receive acceptable bids – said: “We are waiting for Greg to make a decision. Hull are at the table with a good deal and opportunity for him.
“It’s not going to work for Greg at Rangers so we are waiting on his decision.”
● St Mirren have signed former Notts County striker Kristian Dennis on a two-year contract.
The 30-year-old moves to Paisley after the expiry of his deal at Meadow Lane and told the Scottish Premiership club’s official website: “The gaffer [Jim Goodwin] was very welcoming when I came up last week and just really helpful. I felt wanted and it was a no-brainer to come up.
“I messaged Paul Mcginn and he had nothing but good things to say. I’m just really looking forward to getting involved and hopefully hit the ground running and score a few goals.”