Rangers want to sign highly-rated Motherwell teenager Bailey Rice
Rangers are in a race with Manchester City to sign Motherwell’s hotly-rated 15-year-old Bailey Rice before he signs a professional deal at Fir Park, according to Football.Scotland.
Rice is a Scottish youth international and has even captained the nation’s youth sides throughout his career so far.
Being only 15 years of age, the defender is yet to sign a professional deal at any club which has got clubs from south of the border interested, according to Football Scotland.
His apparent preferred destination would be England but he can’t sign a professional deal until he is 17 whereas he could sign as early as his 16th birthday should he choose to stay in Scotland.
Act now
This is a huge chance for Rangers to claim a major scalp in the transfer market, even if he isn’t seen in the first team for a few years.
Rice must be a very, very talented individual if Manchester City are sending their Scottish-based scouts to watch his games at youth level.
There will, undoubtedly, be other Scottish clubs considering their options and tempted to approach Rice but as the reigning Scottish champions, Rangers should have more than enough to beat out any other Scottish side to his signature.
The trouble may start if he doesn’t sign a professional deal until he turns 17 at which point English clubs will likely come to invade Motherwell in an attempt to secure his services.
But at just 15 years of age, it is important to not overwhelm the kid. He has a long career ahead of him if the interested outfits are anything to go by and he has no rush to put pen to paper anywhere.
The club are surely putting together a plan to entice him to Ibrox at which point, they could have a real gem on their hands.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has been enraged at Sky Sports’ latest update.