Aston Villa tipped to beat Man United to King signing after Rangers update - pundit
Noel Whelan has tipped Aston Villa to beat Manchester United and Newcastle United to the signing of Rangers starlet Leon King.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested Steven Gerrard's presence at Villa Park would see the Midlands outfit win the race for the 17-year-old's capture.
As revealed by Football Insider last month (26 November), Manchester United and Newcastle are keen on signing King as he heads towards the final months of his contract.
This site has since detailed (30 November) Rangers are opening talks over a new deal for the defender.
The Birmingham Mail (1 December) report Steven Gerrard is also keen on taking the teenager to Aston Villa.
He could be signed by an English club for a compensation fee of around £250,000 next summer.
Whelan suggested the lure of working with Gerrard again would give Villa the advantage in the fight for King's capture.
"I think if you've worked with Steven Gerrard and Steven Gerrard has given him his debut, they'll have a good relationship," Whelan told Football Insider's Russell Edge.
"Most players want to play in the English Premier League. We do know, when you look at Aston Villa, there's a fantastic pathway there for their young players.
"I think if you're having a choice of Man United or Aston Villa, right now on paper, and in your heart as a player, you're going to go to somewhere where you know the manager.
"You know there's a pathway there for younger players. Probably a more realistic chance of breaking into that first team."
Gerrard handed King his debut for Rangers last season.
The teenager has made two senior appearances in Glasgow so far.