Aston Villa check in on Rangers midfielder as pre-contract agreement in pipeline
Aston Villa could swoop in and complete a January deal at Rangers.
Rangers could be set for a busy winter window after a terrible first half of the campaign in the Scottish Premiership.
Danny Rohl’s side have shown they need additions after Rangers drew 0-0 with Falkirk in their last Ibrox outing.
Nico Raskin has been linked with a Rangers exit, while additions are sought after with the hope of changing the tide in Govan.
The January window could go on to represent a problem for the Light Blues, especially with Aston Villa sniffing around.
Aston Villa eye Bailey Rice free transfer
Villa have been linked with Raskin in the past, with Unai Emery’s side known for their financial struggles in recent seasons.
That has seen the Villans utilise unique methods to bring in talented players with an eye to the future rather than overspending on older players.
The Premier League side have been known to utilise the Scottish market with Fletcher Boyd signing from Aberdeen earlier in the year.
Villa could now turn to Rangers to make a move for Bailey Rice on a pre-contract agreement once the January window opens.
The Mail Online reported on 2 December that the Gers have failed to agree new terms with the 19-year-old which looks set to leave him out of contract in the summer.
The Villans have shown interest in completing a free transfer, but face competition from Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City for his signature.
The latter two have indicated they would be willing to make a pre-contract offer in January, which is the earliest opportunity Rice can speak to interested parties.
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Rangers can’t afford to let Rice go
The Ibrox faithful have long been calling for young players to be given a proper chance to prove their qualities in the Rangers first team.
That hasn’t truly been on show this season, with the likes of Mikey Moore handed minutes ahead of talented academy stars from Govan.
Rice has featured across just 217 Scottish Premiership minutes, while Findlay Curtis has only played 57 despite scoring earlier in the season against St Mirren.
The midfielder would just be the latest in a long line of talents to leave Govan for the Premier League, summing up everything wrong with the Light Blues’ approach right now.
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