Leon King in demand for bargain transfer as Rangers transfer update emerges
Hearts are one of the teams looking at Rangers centre-back Leon King ahead of the summer transfer window.
Former Celtic midfielder Si Ferry has claimed that he’s heard about the Jam Tarts expressing interest in the Gers youngster, who’s on loan at Ayr United.
King’s teammate Jamie Murphy wouldn’t be surprised to see Derek McInnes’ team targeting the 22-year-old whose contract at Ibrox expires at the end of the season.
The defender is thriving under Scott Brown at Somerset Park, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for him in Govan.
Rangers have no-brainer Leon King decision amid Hearts interest
King is surely doing very well at Ayr United for William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts to keep an eye on him.
The centre-back has primarily played on the right of a back three for the Honest Men, making 17 appearances as Brown’s team vie for promotion to the top flight.
It would make sense for the Gers to offer the young defender a new contract ahead of the 2025-26 campaign as Danny Rohl continues to make progress in G51.
James Tavernier and Dujon Sterling have often played in the backline for the German manager this season, and with the veteran captain’s contract expiring soon and the former Chelsea defender’s persistent fitness issues, King may have a role to play at Ibrox.
Speaking on Open Goal on 24 February, Ferry said, “I heard the other day that Hearts are looking at Leon King.”
Murphy responded, “It wouldn’t surprise me. I know he is out of contract, and there are teams looking at him. I feel like I am selling him when we want to keep him at Ayr, but he has done really well this year.”
Kevin Thelwell transfer call backfires at Ibrox
Rangers signed Nasser Djiga on loan from Wolves last summer, but the centre-back has been underwhelming for them this season.
Kevin Thelwell opted to send King, a homegrown talent, to the Scottish Championship and signed several defenders from down south, with most of them failing to live up to expectations.
| Players | Transfer fee |
| Youssef Chermiti | £8m |
| Oliver Antman | £3.5m |
| Thelo Aasgaard | £3.5m |
| Bojan Miovski | £2.6m |
| Emmanuel Fernandez | £2.5m |
The Light Blues undoubtedly made a big blunder by not having faith in the Scotland Under-21 international and instead relying on developing players for other teams.
There’s no doubt Rohl would surely have been better served having someone like King at his disposal right now, but only time will tell whether the Gers can salvage their relationship with him.
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