Aston Villa may speed up discussions to sign Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice in the coming months, even though the transfer window is closed. The contract of the 19-year-old Scotland Under-19 international at Ibrox is set to expire at the end of the season. With no progress on a new agreement, Rangers are at risk of losing him. The next few months are anticipated to be important, and a pre-contract move is a strong possibility. Aston Villa is one of several English clubs that are considering a move. Championship side West Brom is also observing his situation, and both clubs have admired him for a long time.
A potential transfer is made more complex because Rice has been sidelined for five months due to a serious knee injury. He might not play again this season, which is a point of concern for the clubs that are interested. In December, Football Insider reported that Rangers were facing a challenge to retain the player. Bailey Rice joined Rangers in July 2024. According to Transfermarkt, he has a current market value of €800k.
