Rangers are leading the race to sign Motherwell wonderkid Bailey Rice, according to Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Sought-after prospect
The youngster does not turn 16 until October; once he does, he will then be eligible to sign his first professional contract.
Back in March, it was reported that Brighton and Manchester City were interested in signing the Scotsman, who has now made 14 caps at youth level for his country, but it looks like he will be opting to stay closer to home.
The 15-year-old is a centre-back who also has experience playing in midfield, having featured in a number of roles for Scotland’s U17 side.
The Latest: Rangers leading the race
Rice has been the subject of heavy interest by both Rangers and Celtic this summer, alongside a number of Premier League clubs.
According to a fresh report by Football Insider, the Gers are emerging as the favourites to sign the young defender, with the Light Blues now in pole position to secure the Motherwell player’s signature.
The Verdict: Bags of potential
It would be a major coup for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side if the Glasgow outfit beat their city rivals to the Scottish wonderkid.
Rice could end up on the same trajectory as academy graduate Nathan Patterson, who joined Premier League side Everton for a reported £12m fee in January, with add-ons bringing this total up to £16m.
Were Rangers right to sell Nathan Patterson?
Yes
No
Rangers will of course want to try and replicate this type of business in the future, so the potential arrival of the 15-year-old may be yet another master-stroke in the long-run, whether he fulfils his potential at Ibrox or elsewhere.
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