Sam Stone

Thu 20 October 2022 13:10, UK

Leon King has seen his stock rise over the past couple of months after a promising start to the 2022/23 season for Rangers.

Unsurprisingly, the 18-year-old has been the subject of interest from the Premier League and from Europe (Fabrizio Romano, Here We Go Podcast, 13:08, 10 October) in recent weeks.

With King’s contract up in the summer of 2024 and still yet to be resolved, it’s crucial for the club to tie him down to a new deal in the coming months.

However, Rangers must brace themselves for more interest, particularly from the Premier League, with Brexit having an impact on the younger players clubs in England can target.

As of January 2021, English clubs were barred from signing players under the age of 18 from overseas, which has meant an increased focus on talent from the UK, the category King fits into.

A young British player is an oft sought-after asset in today’s market and if more Premier League clubs come knocking, it could be really difficult for the Gers to keep the youngster at the club.

What is absolutely critical is that the Ibrox hierarchy get the defender tied down to a new deal to avoid losing him for below what his current market value is. If he does depart Ibrox, it’s vital that he earns the Gers a big transfer fee.

The speculation will come and go, particularly with the January window fast approaching, and King must ensure that he remains completely focused on matters on the pitch.

Staying at Ibrox and playing regular first-team football is the best thing for his development at this moment in time.

In other Rangers news, this Gers player “knows he’s done” after BBC Sportscene shared footage of him.