Rangers’ Leon King has reportedly made a decision about his future after being scouted by Newcastle United earlier this season.
It was claimed by Fabrizio Romano that the defender was earning admiring glances, with the Magpies, Manchester United and Leeds all taking a look at the teenager.
King is only 18-years-old, but has received a lot of first-team football at Ibrox this season. The centre-back featured in all six of Rangers’ Champions League group games – although it was a campaign to forget for the Glaswegians.
They lost every game, including a 7-1 drubbing to Liverpool where King looked massively out of sorts. But he wasn’t the only Rangers player to struggle on that night…
The teenager has been attracting attention from the Premier League, with his contract status meaning he could be available on the cheap.
His current deal expires in 2024, but a new contract is reportedly on the horizon to stop someone like Newcastle grabbing a bargain.
Newcastle set to miss out on Leon King after new Rangers contract
Romano was the one who reported on the likes of Newcastle scouting King, and now he has provided an update on the defender’s future.
He has ‘been told’ that the youngster has agreed to sign a new contract with Rangers that will keep him with the 2022 Europa League finalists until 2026.
Transfer expert Romano adds that King is still on the list of many top Premier League clubs.
While there is still a chance that King crosses the border from Scotland to England, this new contract will at least increase his value. That will allow Rangers to get a decent fee for the highly rated defender.
Whether or not he is still on Newcastle’s radar remains to be seen. Dan Ashworth has made a clear effort to boost the club’s academy, bringing in multiple talented teenagers.
The Magpies have already signed Scots Charlie McArthur and Jude Smith, meaning King would be the third Scottish youngster to join since Ashworth became Sporting Director.
However, a new four-year deal for King makes an imminent move to St James’ Park unlikely. But he is certainly a name to look out for in the future.
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