A defensive shortage has thrust Leon King into the limelight – with an injury crisis ensuring four of the teenager’s 19 senior appearances for Rangers have been in the Champions League.
It has been a steep learning curve for the fast-tracked youngster, cruelly exposed to the unsympathetic reality of elite competition last midweek. King was involved in the capitulation against Liverpool at Ibrox - but a chastening experience against Mohamed Salah and co will not prevent the continuation of admiring glances from afar.
King was a standout performer throughout the various development groups for club and country. Despite English clubs clamouring for his services, his loyalty to his boyhood club remained. It would have been understandable if the Premier League lure had proved irresistible, but the unflustered teen was determined to represent the club he ardently supports.
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The unruffled and composed defender has shown glimpses of his quality. Exposure to first-team action at a tender age has led to clubs keeping abreast of his situation and maintaining a watchful eye on his development. King’s contract expires in 2024 – and Rangers have to ensure the outstanding Academy pupil does not shuffle to the departure lounge before making a meaningful contribution.
The Old Firm are vulnerable to incoming bids for their prized assets, with both acutely aware of their place in the food chain. UEFA's rules and regulations place added importance on homegrown talent. Clubs can register squads of up to 25 players for European involvement each season, and the submitted list must include eight club-trained or association-trained players.
In January, Rangers were content to let Academy graduate Nathan Patterson exit due to the immovable club captain limiting his opportunities. The marauding full-back was keen to avoid stagnation and remain in Steve Clarke’s uppermost thoughts, but King’s breakthrough is less complicated: no impassable bollards are preventing his transition into the first team.
Celtic and Rangers regularly struggle to produce deep talent pools, and homegrown options will remain severely limited if they cannot keep hold of the select few that offer promise. Kieran Tierney, sold for a Scottish record transfer fee, at least contributed to a trophy-laden spell for The Hoops before the inevitable dart south.
Brexit has increased the attractiveness of players north of the border, and the best young Scottish talent is increasingly sought-after by Premier League clubs. Ben Doak, outstanding for Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League, swapped the fringes of the Celtic first team for Merseyside, and the prolific Rory Wilson traded Rangers for Aston Villa.
The youngsters are both just 16 years old, yet they relocated for paltry sums last summer. An increasing number of teenage exports are broadening their horizons in various locations around Europe - and benefitting from exposure to different environments and cultures. The financial wherewithal of clubs in the big five leagues has left Scottish sides vulnerable though, and compensation received for budding hopefuls is often inadequate.
UEFA’s homegrown rule is restrictive yet sensible. It ensures clubs, regardless of resources, are required to maintain an interest in nurturing their own. It also prevents stockpiling, but inevitably, there are drawbacks. Academy players can lurk on the fringes with no realistic first-team prospects – yet still, be blocked from a permanent or temporary switch away due to quota requirements.
Stephen Welsh, a fourth-choice central defender at Celtic, was subject to an intriguing loan bid from Ligue 1 side Toulouse in August. Ange Postecoglou might have been more receptive to the offer if UEFA regulations had not restricted his flexibility in the transfer market. Welsh, an Academy graduate, has played for the club he adores on just six occasions this season, and he requires more than fleeting opportunities.
Until the Old Firm can reap the benefits of a conveyor belt of young talent, Academy graduates can't be transferred as readily as imported recruits. Intelligent scouting and recruitment can improve first-team squads, but replacing homegrown produce is a much more laborious process.
