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Ben Banks

Leon King and his Rangers transfer decision as 5 early Premier League moves analysed amid speculation

He's being linked with big names south of the border - but there are tales of caution and joy for Leon King to ponder before making a choice on his Rangers future.

The defender has been thrust into regular action at Ibrox amid a slate of injuries in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's defence, and has impressed whenever handed the chance. It' has resulted in big name links, with Manchester United just one of those said to be after him.

King won't be the first to head for the lure of England's Premier League as a few other promising Scots have done so in the recent past. It's brought fortune in places and recognition at a high level, but others haven't had such a good time of it on one of the biggest stages. which shows the grass - or cash - isn't always greener on the other side of the border.

Record Sport takes a look at some of those who have tried their hand down south at an early age.

Nathan Patterson

Perhaps someone King will turn to if interest in his services are formalised. The 20-year-old Scotland international left earlier this year for Everton.

Injuries hampered his first six months in Merseyside and he couldn't really get a sniff of first team action even when he was fit initially. But Patterson has worked his way up to first-choice under Frank Lampard, albeit currently recovering from an ankle problem.

His performances have won plenty of plaudits from fans and his boss after showing up well in big matches like the derby against Liverpool. Come a long way since a 45-minute showing against Boreham Wood in the FA Cup last season.

Leigh Griffiths

Blasting into the past for this one. The striker made his name at Livingston as a 16-year-old before hitting the goal trail at Dundee. It caught the attention of Mick McCarthy and the-then Wolves manager made his move.

The Dens Park club parted with the 20-year-old for £150k but only after a two-week trial after it was claimed at the time Griffiths ' medical showed him to be 'not as strong as expected.'

He spent two of his three years at Hibs during time at Molineux but as the club plummeted to League One, six months of scoring at the beginning of term 2013/14 attracted a successful by Celtic for his services.

Perhaps key is that Griffiths returned north and showed what he could do before moving to one of Glasgow's big two. Those who start their careers there don't often return to the same level if a stint in England doesn't go as well as they hoped.

Billy Gilmour

Scotland's Billy Gilmour (SNS Group)

Another man not far from home for King to study. Before he had made a senior appearance at Rangers, Gilmour joined Chelsea for six figures.

At the time he was on the cusp of a breakthrough at Ibrox but eventually Lampard handed him one while he was in charge of the Stamford Bridge club. His career so far peaked with a Man of the Match display for Scotland at Wembley last year but a difficult loan at Norwich City last season saw Gilmour sold to Brighton this summer.

How that works out remains to be seen. The man who signed him for the Seagulls almost immediately left for Chelsea and it would have been interesting to see how Gilmour fared under graham Potter at either club.

But given his rise to prominence for his country and the small matter of a Champions League winners medal in his back pocket, then it's hard to argue that Gilmour jumped ship from Ibrox too soon. He's been linked with a return to Govan on loan more than once, and if he doesn't manage to establish himself under Roberto Di Zerbi at the Amex, then expect those to resurface again this summer.

Ben Doak

One of the current Rangers defender's Scotland U21s teammates has shown what can be achieved when hitting the right notes in England. Doak left Celtic for Liverpool earlier this year and has shot up the ranks - still only 16 - to be heralded as one of the Anfield club's most exciting talents.

Jurgen Klopp made a coy reference to him in the build-up to the Light Blues facing his side after scoring multiple times in the UEFA Youth League. Doak has been tearing it up at Youth level for the Reds, but is still a long way from being anywhere near the first team at Anfield.

He has time on his side though. Expect a loan or two to get him more experience at first team level - maybe even back in Scotland - before he makes the step up to that level.

Danny Wilson

A case of what could have been despite a very successful career overall. Wilson was viewed as a future Scotland stalwart when he made the big jump from Rangers to Liverpool.

It didn't work out for him despite a lofty reported price tag of £5 million, playing nine times before ending up back in Scotland with Hearts, three years on from his 2010 transfer. He captained the Jambos, but financial issues saw them relegated to the Championship, which they won at the first time of asking - ahead of favourites Rangers - with Wilson leading them from the back.

Rangers brought him back to Ibrox as they climbed up the football ladder. But Wilson's been in the MLS with Colorado Rapids since 2018.

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