Sources: Rangers opening King talks - deal could be done by 1 January

Rangers are opening new contract talks with Leon King to avoid losing him in the new year, Football Insider understands.

This site revealed last week that Man United and Newcastle United are among the clubs south of the border keeping close tabs on the 17-year-old defender.

Ibrox sources have told Football Insider the club are making it a "priority" to secure King to a new and improved deal.

Talks are set to begin imminently on tying the rising star to what would be his second professional deal with the club.

His current agreement, signed shortly after he turned pro in January of last year, is due to expire next summer.

It means he can agree a pre-contract with cross-border clubs in England from 1 January and then leave for a cut-price fee of around £250,000 at the end of season.

Rangers are very keen to avoid a repeat of the Billy Gilmour situation, in which the Scotland international quit in May 2017 aged 15 to join Chelsea.

Unlike Gilmour, King has already played for the senior team after making a big impression under Steven Gerrard.

The recently-departed former manager handed King his debut in November of last year aged 16 in a Scottish League Cup match against Falkirk.

He made his Scottish Premiership debut in May, replacing Joe Aribo in the 86th minute of a 3–0 away win against Livingston.

King has spent this season mainly playing for the reserves and youth teams at Ibrox.

He was named on the bench for the 2-0 Europa League win over Slavia Prague last week but has been omitted from all other first-team squads.

In other news, Kieran Maguire has shared a "surprise" £12m Rangers reveal.