Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has offered insight into the future of one of the club’s highest-rated young talents ahead of his contract expiry this summer.
Following Rangers 3–0 win over Dundee on Sunday, a result that moved the Ibrox club into second place ahead of Old Firm rivals Celtic and within four points of league leaders Hearts, who held the Hoops to a 2–2 draw at Tynecastle on the same day, Rohl was asked about the future of Bailey Rice, who has missed the past five months with a serious injury.
On Rice, the German said: “I think it's now at the stage where he must first come back after the big injury. He is working hard in this case.
"Then we make a decision from our side.”
That decision, as mentioned, will concern the future of the former Motherwell youth player, whom Rangers acquired from Fir Park in the summer of 2022 at just 15 years old.
At the time, Rice was seen as an even brighter prospect than his midfield partner in the Steelmen youth side, Lennon Miller, now of Italian Serie A club Udinese, but due to a mix of managerial instability and injury, the midfielder has struggled to make his breakthrough at Ibrox.
Now 19, Rice’s contract with Rangers expires in the summer and, after an LCL injury that required surgery, he is unlikely to feature for Rangers again this campaign.
Simon Jones of the Daily Mail reported last month that Rice was set to leave Rangers when his contract expires in the summer and was expected to try his luck in England, with several big-name clubs interested in his signature.
However, Rohl appears keen to spend time working with the player himself. With reports indicating Rice may not be fit enough to play any part in Rangers’ campaign, a shorter-term contract extension could be on the horizon.
With Rice returning closer to fitness following surgery in November, he may be fit enough to be loaned out towards the end of the season. While a loan to another Scottish Premiership club would be prohibited, a move to the second tier would be permitted until the end of March.
The most likely destination, should fitness allow, would be Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers, who are partnered with Rangers under a co-operation agreement.
The club currently have Paul Nsio on loan from Ibrox, although this is not a co-operation loan. They previously had Joshua Gentles for the first half of the season, though the Welsh forward is now with League 1 side Alloa Athletic after a lack of game time at Stark’s Park.
Rice has made 16 first-team appearances for Rangers, including three UEFA Europa League outings last season, featuring in Rangers 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford alongside Findlay Curtis under Phillipe Clement.
His last outing was under Russell Martin, appearing in an unfamiliar role against Alloa in the League Cup, where he started at left-back.
He also has a Scottish League Cup winners medal from 2023.