Rangers starlet compared to two-time title winner 'set to leave' as Ibrox contract stalemate alerts EPL duo

The 19-year-old Scotland youth international made his Rangers debut back in February 2023, becoming the youngest post-war player to represent the club when he was introduced as an 88th-minute substitute in a match against Livingston at the age of just 16 years and 137 days old, and agreed a contract until the summer of 2026 at Ibrox shortly afterwards.

Rice made an impression in his first start for Rangers —a 0-0 Europa League quarter-final draw with Atletico Bilbao. Interim head coach Barry Ferguson expressed confidence in him at the post-match press conference, stating, “I'm going to put my trust in him. I'm sure the Rangers fans will see why I'm putting my trust in him.”

However, the 6ft 1in midfielder, who has been likened to two-time English Premier League title winner Nemanja Matic in the past due to his composure and build over his raw athleticism, has struggled with injury this term and has started just once, playing 45 minutes of the 4-2 win over Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup.

And now the Glasgow giants face a battle to hold onto the teenager after a new report revealed that the club were struggling to agree terms on a new deal for the imposing midfielder. Out of contract in the summer, Rice has previously been monitored by Manchester City and Brighton during his days in the Motherwell academy, and is now attracting interest from the high-flying duo of Aston Villa and Sunderland.

As per a report from the Daily Mail, the club have failed to agree terms on a new deal for the Scotland Under-21 international and that has alerted both sides to his potential availability, with West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City also tracking the starlet, who would be available on a pre-contract offer in January if no new contract is agreed.

Should he fail to sign a new deal and depart Rangers this summer, the club would be due a compensation fee. Moving to Ibrox in the summer of 2022 from Motherwell, he signed his first professional contract with the club a year later, meaning the Gers would be due training compensation, which is applicable when a player under-23 transfers internationally, regardless of contract status.

Potentially becoming the third academy player that Rangers have already lost this summer to the English Premier League, Rice would join Oliver Goodbrand and Alfie Hutchison in leaving the club, with the duo having moved to Newcastle United in the summer.

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