Rangers defender Bailey Rice appears to have changed his mind about a transfer this summer after what Fabrizio Romano said.
The 19-year-old is rated highly by those within Ibrox and outside, but saw his development hindered by a season-ending injury in the 2025-26 campaign.
The timing could not have been worse for both Rice and Rangers, as his existing contract is due to run out at the end of the month.
In April, Romano reported that the defensive midfielder is considering his options after not agreeing on a new deal with the Glaswegian outfit, with Schalke and Ajax vying for his services.
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Rice preparing for pre-season with Rangers
Up until two weeks ago, reports claimed that Rice is inclined towards ending his spell at Rangers, mooting Watford as another potential destination for him.
However, it appears the left-footer may not be leaving Ibrox after all, as he is already preparing for pre-season with Danny Rohl’s side.
Ashton Taylor of the NXT Level Lab shared a video of Rice putting in the hard yards abroad, revealing how he helped the teenager regain full fitness before the end of the season.
The football and fitness coach explained that he worked in tandem with Rangers’ head physio, as the Scotland Under-19 international underwent the process to attain match fitness.
More notably, Taylor noted that Rice is now focused on building and maintaining momentum as he prepares for pre-season with Rangers.
Writing on Instagram, he explained: “After a season disrupted by injury, Bailey put the work in to finish the campaign fully fit. Working closely with the club’s head physio, we’ve made sure every box has been ticked throughout his return-to-play process.
“Now, it’s about building capacity, maintaining momentum, and preparing for pre-season @rangersfc. Big year ahead, mate.”
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Rice may have rejected Schalke and Ajax in favour of Ibrox stay
If Rice is set to leave Rangers when his contract expires, as the reports suggest, there is no reason for him to prepare for pre-season with Rohl‘s side.
Therefore, this update from Taylor suggests that the Scot has changed his mind on leaving Ibrox despite interest from the likes of Schalke and Ajax.
While there is no confirmation on that news, this hint from the football coach is certainly promising for the Govan club.
Convincing Rice to reject Schalke and Ajax and put pen to paper on a new contract at Ibrox would be a major statement of intent from the Gers.
