Transfer gossip: Portsmouth ‘monitoring’ Rangers talent Leon King in six-way summer battle
Pompey have reportedly joined West Brom, Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Wolves and Burnley in the race to sign Rangers defender Leon King.
Pompey have been credited with an interest in Rangers defender Leon King.
The Blues, of course, secured their Championship survival with two games to go last month, with all eyes now on planning and recruitment for next term.
Pompey linked with Rangers defender Leon King
Indeed, King is one of those names reportedly on the radar of the football operations at Fratton Park, according to TEAMtalk’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey.
The fresh claim has suggested Pompey are one of six teams currently tracking the centre-back, who is currently impressing on loan at Scottish Championship outfit Ayr United.
The 22-year-old’s standing in the game is rapidly on the rise, having collected a clean sweep at end-of-season awards with the Somerset Park club.
King amassed 34 appearances in all competitions for the Honest Men, who finished seventh in Scotland’s second division this term.
The report claims recently-relegated Burnley and Wolves have carried out extensive checks over the centre-back throughout the season, while newly-crowned Championship champions Coventry City are also said to be in the mix.
It has been claimed Pompey are in the running along side Middlesbrough and West Brom, with the trio also believed to be ‘monitoring’ the Rangers youth product.
Leon King’s Rangers future amid growing interest
King is out of contract at Ibrox this summer and is set to bring his 17-year affiliation with the Glasgow side to a close.
Reports in Scotland have claimed loan-club Ayr have offered the young talent a permanent deal amid growing interest south of the border.
King has risen through the ranks with the Gers and has totalled 52 outings in all competitions - including six outings in a successful 2022-23 Champions League campaign with starts against Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli.
His last Rangers outing came in January 2025 in a Europa League tie with Union Saint Gilloise before loan spells with Queens Park and Ayr United.
Pompey’s current centre-back options
Mousinho currently has six options at the heart of defence heading into the upcoming transfer window.
Regan Poole remained an ever-present throughout the Blues’ survival bid and impressed, amassing 43 appearances in all competitions.
Madiodio Dia was recruited in the winter transfer window from Norwegian outfit Haugesund, with the 22-year-old required in Conor Shaughnessy’s absence during the second half of the season.
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