Defender told to snub interest from Newcastle United, Man United and Leeds

Glasgow Rangers defender Leon King has been urged to reject any approach from Premier League trio Newcastle United, Leeds United and Manchester United.

The Scotland Under-21 international committed his future to the Ibrox club earlier this year and has started to become a regular feature in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s matchday squads this season.  The 18-year-old was handed a first start of the campaign in a Scottish League Cup win over Queen of the South in August and has featured in all four of his side’s Champions League ground stage fixtures.

There was some surprise when King was handed a start as Rangers fell to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier this month and he made a substitute appearances in the return fixture between the two sides when Jurgen Klopp’s men romped to a 7-1 win at Ibrox.

The likes of Newcastle, Manchester United and Leeds United were all said to be monitoring the youngster in recent weeks but former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson insisted King’s future should remain in Glasgow as he looks to continue his development in a first-team environment, rather than making an early move south of the border.

He told Football Insider: “For the player, it would be best to stay at Rangers. You have to question whether it would be wise to come into the Premier League at 18 years old. Would he be involved in the first team? He would probably play in the under-23s or be loaned out.

“He would be far better off playing for a top quality team like Rangers week in, week out. You will learn more quickly that way. It is better for the player and better for the club. The club will be able to sell you for more in a few years when you have 50 games behind you. Premier League clubs try to sign these young players on the cheap. They try to sign them before they develop into top players.”

King will hope to add to his growing list of senior starts when Rangers host Dundee in the quarter-final of the League Cup on Wednesday night.