Rangers are reportedly closing in on a new deal for Leon King and a tough Leon Balogun decision from Giovanni van Bronckhorst deserves credit as the club protect a key asset.
Teenage defender King is amongst the brightest talents in the Scottish game and Rangers have regularly had to convince the player that his future lies at Ibrox with one eye on a potential big pay day for both parties in the future.
Reports from Fabrizio Romano have claimed that Rangers have now negotiated a new deal for Leon King after serious exposure to the first team for the centre-back this season.
Amid an injury crisis at the club, Leon King has played a role in every single Champions League group stage match this season and that’s why that summer Balogun decision has paid dividends.
Whilst at the time Rangers were humbled in the competition’s group stages, the fact Giovanni van Bronckhorst left that space in his squad available for Leon King rather than hand Leon Balogun a new deal has helped fend off the Premier League billions.
Van Bronckhorst deserves huge Leon King Rangers credit
The likes of Newcastle United, Man United and Leeds United have all been linked and if Rangers can tie the defender down until 2026 then there is justifiable hope of a similar transfer fee to that £16m Nathan Patterson deal.
It was clearly a tough decision to make and Leon Balogun was claiming last week that the final decision rested with Giovanni van Bronckhorst before the defender was released from Ibrox.
There has been stiff criticism from several quarters after Rangers released the player and Giovanni van Bronckhorst has had to stand up to that.
But whilst the Nigerian international remains a hugely popular figure at Ibrox, and there’s an acknowledgment that the decision was a difficult one, had Leon Balogun still been around perhaps Leon King wouldn’t have been so sold on a new Rangers contract.
Being a manager certainly isn’t an easy job and if Rangers can go on to secure a new contract and big fee for Leon King, Giovanni van Bronckhorst deserves credit for both giving him a place in the club’s squad and the opportunity to play in such high-profile matches.
Even at the expense of a popular ex-player like Leon Balogun.
Meanwhile, a controversial former Rangers player is reportedly getting set for retirement.
