Rangers in contract talks with Bailey Rice, Ibrox star weighing up options
Rangers are in contract talks with Bailey Rice to try to keep him at Ibrox.
The 19-year-old was signed in 2022 on a free transfer, but he has only featured 16 times since making that move to Govan.
He has had a nightmare campaign this season, as he has made just one appearance, a 45-minute showing in the Scottish Cup against Alloa in August.
His campaign was ended by a training ground injury in November, but Danny Rohl clearly still wants to keep him around.
Rangers will face a big ask to convince Rice, as he has significant interest from clubs all over the place.
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What has been said about Rice’s Rangers contract?
Rice was widely expected to leave Rangers this summer, but nothing has been confirmed when it comes to his future.
A report from Rangers Review on 21 May claims that the Gers are still in talks with Rice, but the player is weighing up his options.
It states that there is interest in his services from Ajax and Schalke, and does not share whether an agreement is close or far away.
Why new reports signal a shift
Reports in the winter window suggested that Rice had rejected the idea of continuing with the Gers, so the new report signals a shift.
The likes of Aston Villa, West Brom and Cardiff City were reportedly set to fight it out for a free transfer for the young star.
However, the fact that Rohl’s side is in talks with him is encouraging and suggests that he has not shut the door on staying in Glasgow, as previous claims have implied.
| Rice’s stats for Rangers | |
| Matches | 16 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 472 |
He will surely seek assurances from the manager that he will be involved, given how he has been constantly overlooked in G51, by several managers.
Rohl has made it clear that he wants to build a Scottish core, and Rice could be a key part of that if he can develop the way that the Light Blues hoped when they added him to their ranks.
It makes sense to keep hold of him regardless of their stance, as losing him for a decent sum on money would be better than getting nothing for the player.
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