Craig Moore: Leon King Rangers exit rumours a result of agent talk
Craig Moore believes Leon King’s agent is running a “marketing campaign” to increase the interest in the Rangers defender, as he is linked with an Ibrox exit.
The Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano revealed (Here We Go Podcast, 10 October) there was growing interest from a number of Premier League and European clubs in the 18-year-old.
However, Moore feels the young defender would be far better off remaining at Ibrox and playing regular first-team football.
Talking on the Go Radio Football Show (3:50, 18 October quoted by Daily Record), Moore said: “Nowadays we are not reading just one club we are reading 10 clubs.
“You then start to understand there is a little bit of marketing campaign behind the scenes. Leon King as a young player has come in and done extremely well.
“We have got to remember he is 18 years of age and is getting first-team minutes. That is the most important thing in any young player’s development, and he is getting game time in the first-team minutes. These clubs that are being mentioned; he is not going to go and play. He is in the right place and I’m sure he wants to stay.”
Spot on
This assessment from Moore is spot on and often the way it works in the modern game. King’s agent will be well aware of his client’s potential and the current contractual situation at Ibrox. If he can generate a bit of interest and make it public, Rangers will be inclined to offer him an increased wage, which in turn earns the agent more money.
It’s the unfortunate way the modern game works and King would be wise to accept the new terms that he will eventually be offered at Ibrox. The club would now be smart to accelerate contract talks with the defender with a string of appearances in the Champions League likely to see his value increase even more.
At such a young age, playing regular football at his agent will be invaluable for his development and be far more beneficial to him compared to playing under-21s football for a Premier League club.
Rangers fans will be desperate for the youngster to remain at Ibrox and be a defensive lynchpin for years to come for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
In other Rangers news, an official partner of the Gers has called on the board to sack van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson.