NafisaIf the latest report from The Daily Record holds true, Rangers academy talent Leon King is on the verge of joining Queen’s Park on loan for the remainder of the season. The 21-year-old centre-back is eager for more playing time, and Light Blues interim boss Barry Ferguson has given the green light for a short-term move ahead of the loan transfer deadline.
Interestingly, Queen’s Park recently eliminated Rangers from the Scottish Cup just a few weeks ago. That shocking defeat played a role in Philippe Clement’s dismissal shortly after. Now, the Spiders—currently struggling near the bottom of the Championship—are looking to turn things around and steer clear of relegation danger.
King has been with Rangers since childhood and quickly emerged as one of their most promising young players. After progressing through the academy, he made his senior debut in November 2020 at just 16. However, his first-team opportunities remained limited over the years, apart from the 2022-23 campaign, where he made 23 appearances under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and later, Michael Beale.
Although he showed promise at the heart of the defense, King struggled to cement a spot in Clement’s plans. Even when injuries plagued the squad, the Belgian coach opted to promote Clinton Nsiala from the reserves rather than rely on the young Scot, who remained an unused substitute despite his prior senior experience.
Why King Still Has a Future at Rangers
Meanwhile, Ferguson made an interesting tactical switch during Rangers’ recent match against Kilmarnock, pushing James Tavernier into central defense after conceding twice early on. He subbed off Nsiala but introduced Ridvan Yilmaz on the right, moving the captain into an improvised centre-back role. If Tavernier continues to be deployed centrally, King’s chances of playing would diminish further, making this loan move a smart decision to ensure regular minutes.
Rangers have plenty of defensive options, with Robin Propper and John Souttar forming the preferred centre-back partnership. However, injuries have limited their time together on the pitch. Additionally, Leon Balogun, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Dujon Sterling, and Rafael Fernandes provide further depth, along with Nsiala and King.
Despite this depth, the club must reassess its defensive setup in the summer. Balogun, now 36, is expected to depart when his contract expires at the season’s end. Kasanwirjo, on loan from Feyenoord, has barely featured due to a long-term injury. Sterling is more effective as a fullback, and Fernandes—who arrived on loan from Lille in January—remains a fringe player. With Kasanwirjo and Fernandes potentially returning to their parent clubs after their loan spells, a strong showing at Queen’s Park could give King a fresh opportunity to reestablish himself at Ibrox next season.
Nafisa
