Ibrox View: Rangers silence over out-of-contract ace says it all about his future

Rangers are seemingly still no closer to tying Bailey Rice down to a new contract.

The talented 19-year-old midfielder looks all but certain to leave Ibrox at the end of the season, with his current deal set to run down in the summer.

At present, there is no agreement over fresh terms. This is despite the Daily Record claiming in March that the Gers want Rice to stay amid interest from a host of clubs.

The teenager has made just 16 first-team appearances since arriving from Motherwell in 2022 and has not played under Danny Rohl at all, having been ruled out since November.

Barring a last-minute U-turn, Rice will depart Rangers as a free agent.

Premier League clubs want Bailey Rice

Rice is expected to belatedly return from injury in mid-April. Depending on how quickly he regains match sharpness, he could make his debut under Rohl during the title run-in.

The head coach has admitted he would prefer to watch the young Scot in action before assessing his future, but he is certainly cutting it fine, with his terms up in June.

The uncertainty around Rice’s situation has put numerous suitors on red alert.

Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, Manchester City and Brighton were previously interested in him, and they could return to make a bargain swoop at the end of the campaign.

Aston Villa, Sunderland, West Brom and Cardiff all made checks on Rice in December, aware he will likely become a free agent, and Rice can now hold transfer talks with clubs.

Rice made history at Rangers after becoming the youngest post-war player to feature for the club in the Premiership, having made his debut aged 16 years and 137 days.

Losing him on these terms, then, would be a real shame.

Rangers running out of time to make decision

There are several reasons why Rangers should consider handing Rice a new deal.

First and foremost, he is young and clearly very talented. Rohl has proven he is able to get the best out of his players in Govan, and the teenager could become the latest to benefit.

He would also likely be willing to settle for semi-regular minutes next season, and extending his contract would also allow the club to gain a better insight into his future potential.

If Rangers do decide to let him leave, they would be foolish not to demand a transfer fee. A short-term deal would allow the 49ers and Andrew Cavenagh to make a healthy profit.

That way, every party would come away satisfied.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.