According to the reports from Daily Record, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Leipzig are ready to pounce on Rangers youngster Leon King. The 15-year-old is currently a Scotland u-17 international, and he has featured for Rangers’ development side. King is a central defender by trade, and he is being seen as a substantial upcoming talent.
King snubs contract offer from Rangers
It is being said that Rangers are in fear of losing King in the same way they lost Billy Gilmour. Gilmour left Ibrox for Chelsea in 2017, and the Scottish midfielder has managed to break into Lampard’s team this season. Rangers are said to be in a similar situation as King has turned down Rangers’ offer for his first professional contract.
King is yet to turn 16 and Rangers could end up only getting a compensation fee for him if he doesn’t go on to sign a deal with the Bears. In the case of Gilmour, Rangers got around £500,000 for the midfielder from the London club. There is no doubt that the midfielder will be worth more now, and the more he starts impressing for Chelsea, his market value will shoot up.
With teams like City, Chelsea and Liverpool chasing, it would be understandable if the youngster snubs Rangers’ contract to move down south. However, he also needs to be aware of the fact that he will find it that much harder to break into the senior team there.
Chelsea have to make use of their young players for now because of a transfer embargo. City and Liverpool are currently brimming with top talents, and it would take someone special to break into their senior team in a few years.
A losing battle for Gerrard
Currently, we don’t see what Rangers can do other than to offer the best contract which can be provided for a 16-year-old. King seems to be a top talent as he played for Rangers’ development side when he was just 14, and he is a Scotland u-17 international at 15.
The centre back will turn 16 in January next year, so Rangers don’t have too much time either. Once he turns 16, the midfielder can sign a contract if there is an approach made by other clubs and Rangers would be only liable to get a meagre compensation fee. Maybe the Gerrard factor could turn this in Rangers’ favour still, but after the latest update, it seems like the upcoming defender would move away from Glasgow soon.
