Premier League-linked Rangers prospect Leon King has made it clear that he’s striving for bigger and better things in 2022.
King is highly rated at Ibrox and made his Premiership and League Cup debuts for the Gers last season.
However, despite the departures of George Edmundson and Niko Katic (loan) over the summer, he’s moved further away from the first team.
He didn’t feature in the months leading up to Steven Gerrard’s departure and is yet to be seen under Gio van Bronckhorst, making just one matchday squad and instead playing regularly for Rangers B.
King has grown up a Rangers fan but there’s uncertainty over his future as his contract is up at the end of the season and Premier League clubs Man United and Newcastle United have reportedly been tracking him [Football Insider].
Rangers prospect eyeing progress
“2021,” he tweeted on Thursday afternoon, followed by a tick emoji. “Here’s to a better 2022.”
The post also contained four photos of him from training and matches in the past year.
What does the future hold for King?
A January departure seems unlikely but Rangers need to make sure the 17-year-old feels sufficiently valued over the next few months if he is to stay at Ibrox beyond the end of the season.
With Premier League clubs circling, it’s key that the Gers convince him that there’s a more realistic path to regular first-team football at Ibrox than he would have south of the border.
King is still very young, but while it has many benefits, the novelty of Lowland League football will soon wear off for a player of his ability, if it hasn’t already.
If he does sign a new deal, with Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun out of contract in the summer, there could be space for him to permanently graduate to the first-team squad in the summer.
Meanwhile, a frozen out former Ger has reportedly been offered an A-League escape route.
