Glasgow Rangers are close to agreeing professional terms with exciting prospect Leon King, according to Football Insider.
The Gers youngster has recently turned 16 and has attracted interest from a number of Premier League teams, according to the report, such is his promise even at an early age.
King is the latest in a long-line of youngsters coming through the Rangers system and showing potential to become a future first team star.
Although he is yet to make his senior debut, the teenager was part of the Gers match day squad for their 2-0 Scottish Cup victory over Stranraer back in January.
Earlier this month, King captained Scotland Under-17s in a 1-1 draw with Hungary and a 2-1 victory over Sweden, with the defender highly regarded within the national set-up.
Gers boss Steven Gerrard has intervened in potential interest in the young star though, and it is thought that his input has helped King edge closer to agreeing a professional deal with the club.
Rangers are in an advantageous position compared to their English counterparts, as Scottish clubs are allowed to sign players to professional deals as young as 16.
Premier League clubs would have to wait a year later to secure the signature of the young defender, which looks to have played into Gerrard’s hands.
Rangers will be desperate to tie King down to a long-term deal and avoid a repeat of the situation which saw Billy Gilmour head to England.
The highly rated youngster was lured to Chelsea two years ago from Ibrox, going on to make his Premier League debut this season and find his way onto the substitutes bench for their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
Gilmour was tipped for big things at Rangers, but the 18-year-old midfielder slipped through the net and chose to leave Scotland.
