George Overhill

Wed 15 March 2023 7:18, UK

Rangers will find it “very hard” to turn down a good offer for teenage sensation Bailey Rice because of the finances at the club, according to 90min’s Graeme Bailey.

Real Madrid are among a host of European and English giants interested in the 16-year-old Ibrox midfielder, who made his Gers debut against Livingstone on 18 February in a “remarkable” 24-hour turnaround after playing for Scotland’s under-17s.

Michael Beale is a big fan of the former Motherwell player but with the Light Blues cash-strapped ahead of an expected summer revamp Bailey reports that a strong offer could force the club’s hand in the market.

Speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast from 90min on Tuesday (14 March, 43m 20s) Bailey said: “Rangers youngest ever league player… 24 hours before making his debut against Livingston he was captaining Scotland’s under-17s so he literally played two games in 24 hours, one captaining his country and then making his debut for Rangers. So [it’s been a] remarkable few months for him.

“Michael Beale likes him a lot. He was signed from Motherwell last summer when he turned down Man City at the time. Lots of clubs looking at him including Real Madrid.

“When some good 16-year-olds come up clubs know about them pretty quickly, and everyone south of the border knows about him as well.

“If someone comes calling, as we know with Rangers and the financial situation in Scottish football, very hard for them to turn down a good offer.”

Powerless

As much as the financial situation at Ibrox makes the need for funds pressing, most clubs around the world would be struggling if Real Madrid wanted to sign a talented prospect from their ranks.

There is more than a hint of the Billy Gilmour move to Chelsea about this potential exit, and while the early first-team debut under Beale is undoubtedly a positive for the youngster, the bright lights of the English Premier League, La Liga, or the Bundesliga, could be hard to turn down.

At his age Rice will not command a massive fee, but with the number of clubs interested Rangers could benefit from a timely boost in income for the necessary signings to come.

And if he realises his potential and makes a major subsequent move, a potential sell-on clause could prove highly lucrative down the line if were possible to secure one in any agreement that sees him leave the Gers.

While it is obviously a disappointment for any highly-rated prospect to leave Ibrox before making a full impact on the first team it is an occupational hazard for even the richest clubs in the world for players of that age.

And for a Scottish club, even one the size of Rangers, in need of finances it is going to be a big ask to keep hold of anyone against the likes of Real Madrid.

That said, if Rice rejected Man City in order to come to Glasgow less than a year ago it may be that he has other plans and sees the club as the best place to develop, so it is certainly one to keep an eye on.

In other Rangers news, a plan to see the Bears pay £50million to other Scottish clubs “will happen” according to one manager.