Rangers edge closer to a rumoured Leon Balogun return as Michael Beale navigates fresh defensive injury
With Rangers’ recent announcement that Leon King suffered a serious injury in pre-season training in Germany on Monday, the club may be closer to a rumoured reunion with defender Leon Balogun.
Balogun has been linked with a return to Ibrox after his contract with Queens Park Rangers expired this summer [Daily Record], and Rangers could re-sign the 35-year-old in a bid to bolster their defence.
The Nigerian international is admired by manager Michael Beale who worked with him at both QPR and Rangers when he was Steven Gerrard’s assistant.
Meanwhile, Balogun played a key role in convincing new signing Cyriel Dessers to join the club with his complimentary statements about the Glasgow Giants reassuring fellow Nigerian to join the club [RangersTV].
There is nothing but respect and well-wishes between all involved, so the seeds may be set for a Balogun return. Now that there is more space for game time too considering King’s injury, perhaps one Leon can replace another at least until King returns to fitness.
However, it may be questioned whether returning to the now 35-year-old defender is a good idea considering his age and QPR’s significant fall-off in the Championship following Beale’s departure. But as a free agent signing, the move is a low risk and Balogun will not be demanding high wages.
He would be a positive character around the dressing room too and may be able to help some of Rangers’ younger emerging talent including fellow defender Ridvan Yilmaz.
Despite QPR’s tough and disappointing season, Balogun came out of it with some decent stats that may reassure the more tentative Rangers fans. His 0.58 successful take-ons per 90 (94th percentile) show him to be adept with the ball at his feet and quality control, while his 5.24 clearances per 90 (87th percentile) clearly indicate good reactions and ability to stop danger.
While the extent of King’s new injury is unknown, the club specified that he may be ruled out for a significant amount of time, meaning reinforcements will be needed.
Perhaps the veteran can come back to Glasgow and make a true difference as Rangers bid to topple Celtic’s choke-hold on the Scottish league.