Revealed: Rangers face rising-star exodus as more youngsters look to exit door
Rangers face an exodus of youthful talent if they are unable to offer a clear pathway into the first team.
As Michael Beale builds his squad the opportunity for youngsters to flourish has taken a hit and with the club set to make multiple senior signings in the summer, it could become even more difficult for youngsters to break through.
Leon King, 19, was playing for the Gers in the Champions League just months ago but now finds himself playing against Cumbernauld Colts in the Lowland ague for for the B side, a level Beale himself has said isn’t good enough.
The defender agreed a new long-term deal in December that runs until 2026 but is yet to feature for the first team since.
As a result questions have been raised over how Rangers plan to use their best youth products and who sanctioned a deal for a player that is not going to get minutes.
Sources have told Football Insider that Man United, Newcastle United and Leeds United have sent scouts to watch the Scottish centre-back in the past few months and he is set to be a target for a lot of clubs.
But King is not the only player facing these problems.
In recent months several young players have decided to leave the club due to frustration in the lack of a clear pathway to the first team.
Charlie McCann left for Forest Green in January and Alex Lowry also put in a loan request in January but was denied by his bosses at Rangers.
Teammate King was also denied loan opportunities in the winter market by the club.
If Rangers refuse to grant them loan opportunities but also won’t play them in the first team, there is no doubt the best young players will leave Ibrox for better opportunities.
The club recently launched the ‘Rangers Ready’ campaign aimed at giving the best young talent in Scotland the chance to be found.
However, Rangers have a serious problem not in finding talent but actually allowing them to flourish into first team regulars.
Wilson will have a choice to make about the young talent at the club as he looks to bring in a number of new first-team players to help build Beale’s Rangers.
Wilson is a man under major pressure and fans will not be happy to see the best young talent walk out the door for greener pastures.
In other news, a Celtic expert has slammed Wilson in withering Rangers claim – ‘it’s over’.