Preston North End keen on deal for ex-Rangers free agent winger | OneFootball

Preston North End are eyeing a January reunion between Paul Heckingbottom and Ryan Kent

Preston North End are set to join the race to sign free agent Ryan Kent in the January transfer window.

According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, Paul Heckingbottom is keen to reunite with the winger after previously working with him at Barnsley during the 2016-17 season, when Kent was on the books at Liverpool.

Kent is currently a free agent after departing Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in October, after his contract was terminated via mutual consent following a lengthy dispute with the Istanbul outfit where he was banished by previous boss Ismail Kartel.

However, because he departed after the close of the English summer window, his next club will have to wait until January to register him despite the fact he is a free agent.

Preston North End eye deal for free agent winger Ryan Kent

Kent reportedly has a number of suitors both in the United Kingdom and abroad following his departure from Fenerbahce.

It was reported by The Sun in October that League One side Leyton Orient were surprisingly looking to bring him back to English football, with teams in Saudi Arabia also interested.

Football Insider have also claimed that Leeds United are also keeping tabs on the player amid their current injury issues, and could make an attempt to sign the 27-year-old.

Kent came through the ranks of the Liverpool academy system, and spent time on loan at clubs like Coventry City, Barnsley, Bristol City and Rangers before moving to the Glasgow side on a permanent basis in 2019.

Heckingbottom was in charge of the Tykes when Kent signed on loan in the summer of 2016, and made 44 appearances in the Championship under the current PNE boss.

The Lilywhites are hoping to improve their attacking options in the winter market, and have now set their sights on bringing Kent into the team.

It’s been an underwhelming start to the campaign for the Lancashire outfit, with Heckingottom taking on the reins in August after Ryan Lowe’s sudden departure after just one league outing against Sheffield United.

Preston North End’s difficult start to the season could force the need for additions

Preston find themselves 20th in the Championship table going into the November international break, and they are level on points with 22nd place Cardiff City.

Heckingbottom will be hoping to secure the signing of Kent in order to aid their bid to climb the second tier standings.

Kent spent just one season at Fenerbahce, but struggled for consistent game time and was not a part of Mourinho’s first team plans, which led to his exit last month.

Up next for Preston is a home clash against Derby County on 23 November, where they will welcome back Montenegro international Milutin Osmajic from an eight-game ban for biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck, in a move that will certainly add some more fire-power to Heckingbottom's options.

Kent couldn’t make it work in Turkish football, but he is still a player more than capable of making an impact in the Championship.

He knows the division, he knows Heckingbottom and he would bring some much-needed firepower to this Preston squad.

Given he’d be signing as a free agent, this would be very good business for a club like North End, who have never had the biggest budget compared to other Championship powerhouses.

However, the competition for his signature means it might not be so straightforward to get a deal over the line, but the past link to North End's boss could push a move in their favour.