Barnsley look to seal loan deal for Liverpool winger Ryan Kent – report

Liverpool U21s winger Ryan Kent could join Championship side Barnsley on loan this summer, with the Tykes preparing a bid.

Kent spent much of the 2015/16 campaign on loan with Coventry City in League One and impressed, before being recalled to Merseyside by Jurgen Klopp in January.

The 19-year-old made just one appearance for the German last season, however, starting on the right wing against Exeter City in the FA Cup.

Despite his potential as a young winger, Kent remains behind the likes of Sheyi Ojo and Jordon Ibe in Klopp’s thinking, and this has seemingly piqued the interest of Barnsley.

According to the Mail, Paul Heckingbottom is keen to acquire the youngsters services on loan.

With the scrapping of the emergency loan system ahead of 2016/17, Klopp will be required to make a definitive ruling over his young players this summer, unable to recall them until the January transfer window.

Kent would likely be afforded a regular role in Heckingbottom’s first team, however, with a temporary spell at Oakwell aiding his development.

Klopp has already secured the signing of another talented winger in Sadio Mane, with the Senegalese joining in a £30 million deal at the end of June.

Mane will likely vie with Ojo, Ibe, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic for a role in Klopp’s attacking line, diminishing Kent’s prospects of a starting role.

Speaking to This is Anfield in December, Coventry writer Sam Parker described Kent as “a clear class above.”

“Talent wise he is one of the better players we have had at Coventry City for some time,” Parker explained.

“We took Jordan Henderson on loan many years ago, and if at the time you asked if we felt he would become Liverpool standard then it would have been a no.

“Henderson and Kent, despite the obvious differences in what they bring to the team, are a clear class above and I see Kent making it at Anfield in the future.”

Kent’s Liverpool future would likely depend on his output in 2016/17, and joining Heckingbottom’s squad for the season would allow him to prove his worth on the first-team stage.