Leon King exit: Rangers transfer plans shared as six-club transfer race emerges
Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen are planning to send Leon King out on loan this month, according to Rangers News.
The online source reports [14 January] that the Gers are preparing for the 21-year-old’s exit in the January window, but only with a loan deal being considered.
It is understood that at least six clubs in the English Championship are keen on securing the centre-back’s signature despite an injury crisis emerging at Ibrox in recent weeks.
Rangers seriously considering Leon King loan deal at Rangers?
Clement is under tremendous pressure from the supporters, with the Gers 16 points behind their Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, and this certainly will not help his case.
With John Souttar, James Tavernier, Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo all joining Tom Lawrence in the treatment room, it makes absolutely no sense to send King out on loan.
Supporters have expected the 21-year-old to be brought into the starting XI in recent matches, especially after Sterling’s setback, but that has not come to fruition under the Belgian manager.
The injury crisis is so bad that Clinton Nsiala has been promoted from the Rangers B team, but that begs so many questions about why King is not being trusted with the pressure.
Having proven him on so many occasions, being given the occasional opportunity in the first team, Clement is obviously still not sold on him, much to the frustration of the fans.
However, as long as King leaves on a temporary deal rather than a permanent one, and some first-team players return from injury soon, it would not be the worst thing for him to gain more experience.
The Championship is a hugely competitive division and the young centre-back would learn a lot before returning to Ibrox at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
In other Rangers news, David Edgar could not get his head around a “very interesting” decision made by Philippe Clement at Ibrox.
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