Bailey Rice: Premier League club plot move for Rangers gem after scouting mission
Bailey Rice is attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs as he prepares to leave Rangers at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old is out of contract at Ibrox this summer and is not expected to sign an extension as he eyes a move away in search of increased playing time.
Rangers have been reluctant to let the midfielder move on but may now be powerless to resist as a move to England is growing increasingly likely.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that multiple Premier League clubs have been watching Rice since he first broke through at Rangers.
While there are concerns about his injury record and his lack of senior minutes in Scotland, there is a feeling they may take a gamble in a blow to Rangers’ plans.
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VISIT THE RANGERS TRANSFER HUBHow do Rangers feel about losing Bailey Rice?
Football Insider revealed in February that Rangers hope to hold contract talks with Rice in an attempt to convince him to stay at Ibrox beyond the end of the season.
However, no progress has been made towards the offer of a new deal, and they may be forced to give up their attempts as he continues to weigh up his options.
| Bailey Rice | Rangers Stats |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Starts | 4 |
| Minutes Played | 472 |
The opportunity to move to the Premier League is likely to prove tempting for the midfielder, although there are concnerns about whether clubs will make a move.
“Of course clubs are going to be interested in Bailey Rice,” Brown told Football Insider.
“There isn’t a single club I’m aware of in the Premier League who don’t have scouts up in Scotland keeping an eye on the emerging talents there.
“So when somebody is coming out of Rangers with a reputation like his, these clubs will know all about him already.
“Clubs will be in touch with their scouts to find out what they know about him, but to be honest I’m not quite convinced it’s all going to be positive.
“He hasn’t played much for the Rangers first team because of injuries and other issues, and you don’t know the impact that could have on him.
“If he’s not been able to make a difference for Rangers in Scotland, what is there to suggest he would make a difference to a club in the Premier League?
“When somebody like that is available on a free transfer, there will always be somebody willing to take a gamble on him, but a gamble is exactly what it is.
“There are definitely a few concerns, so it will be interesting to see what they do.”
Which Premier League clubs are interested in Rice?
As Rice approaches the end of his contract at Ibrox, he has no shortage of suitors both in the Premier League and across Europe, with multiple clubs keeping tabs.
Football Insider revealed earlier this year that Aston Villa are strong admirers of Rice and could make a move to bring him to Villa Park this summer.
While there are concerns about the teenager’s fitness as he continues his path to returning from a long-term knee injury, they could be tempted to take a gamble.
The likes of Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have also been linked with moves, as his long-term admirers look to pounce on his availability.
Despite ongoing concerns about whether a deal would be worth it long-term, the opportunity to land him on a free would make any move relatively risk-free.
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