- Bailey Rice is said to be wanted by Ajax and Schalke
- The teenager’s Rangers contract is set to expire this summer
- He needs to play football, but two realities are complicating his situation
Bailey Rice is a player with an uncertain future, with his Rangers contract due to expire at the end of the season.
After another season disrupted by a lack of playing time and injury, he is still in the unfulfilled-potential bracket.
Today, he has been linked with a summer switch to the continent, with Ajax and Schalke said to be interested in the midfielder.
Two realities apply to Bailey Rice. The first is that he is a talented young player, but far from proven. It is understandable why Rangers may be reluctant to offer a long-term contract.
Rangers may be wary of King-type scenario with Bailey Rice
The club is partly responsible for his lack of game time on the pitch, whether at Ibrox or on loan, but he has also had several injury issues.
A few years ago, Leon King emerged into the Rangers’ first team squad, having earned rave reviews in the youth set-up.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was forced to play him in the Champions League, alongside James Sands, and we know how that worked out.
As difficult as that situation was in the 2022/23 season, King has not developed as hoped or come good on his potential.
He is now on loan at Ayr United in the Championship and will depart Ibrox in the summer.
For the last three seasons, he has been on a significant contract on the back of the Champions League platform. That has not been good business for the club, and they will not want to repeat the same mistake with Bailey Rice.
He has looked the part in fleeting appearances, including at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the Europa League, but those moments have been too rare.
What next for Rice and Rangers
The ‘news’ today has been fed to Fabrizio Romano to amplify the noise and get people talking.
I’m not sure Rangers will appreciate that decision from Rice’s representatives, but to this writer, it appears he is closer to an exit than staying.
Bailey Rice needs to play football to progress.
That won’t be guaranteed at Rangers, and he isn’t likely to be encouraged by the thoughts of operating on the fringes, or maybe it’s the detail in the contract.
His agents will know there is interest. Their interest is to get the best package for their client, but what is best for the footballer?
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Playing in the Eredivisie or possibly the Bundesliga (Schalke are currently vying for promotion from the second tier) would suit the 19-year-old’s technical style.
How about a loan in the Premiership, after signing an extension at Ibrox?
That also ticks boxes, but it will come down to the terms.
Bailey Rice must play football, but he is stuck between those two realities.
Danny Rohl hinted at this in recent weeks with his non-committal remarks toward the player, expressing an interest to see him at full fitness, before any potential contract move from the club.
