Premier League Brighton are the latest side to be linked alongside reported Rangers target and Motherwell starlet Bailey Rice.
According to Football Insider, the Seagulls are the latest side to join the hunt for the 15-year-old with Manchester City and the Ibrox club also waiting in the wings.
Bailey Rice can sign a professional contract at Rangers when he turns 16 in October but will need to wait until he is 17 to sign professional terms south of the border.
However, English clubs can tempt youngsters north of the border with scholarship contracts that will turn into professional deals.
A captain for the Scotland youth teams at various levels, Rice is widely regarded as one of the brightest talents in the Scottish game and was included in the U17s during this international break.
Premier League club’s to rival Rangers in hunt for Motherwell’s Bailey Rice
It’s not the first time the Gers have been mentioned alongside the youngster with the Ibrox club mentioned as an interested party as early as January this year.
At the time there were also claims that Man City had sent Scotland-based scout Kenny Marshall to watch Bailey Rice in action for the Motherwell youth sides.
Rangers have invested heavily in the club’s Academy in recent seasons and the progress made at B team level and below has been clear for supporters to see.
The Gers pride themselves on providing a clear pathway to the first team that is not always visible at Premier League level and this could be something that satisfies Bailey Rice in negotiations.
Looking at the progress of the likes of Nathan Patterson, Leon King and Alex Lowry could also act as an example for Rice to follow at Rangers.
Rangers have also added a range of young talent from across the UK in recent seasons, adding the likes of Charlie McCann from Man United and Tony Weston from Blackpool.
There is also some confusion surrounding a major talent of Rangers’ own, as a 40-goal youth striker is earmarked for a English Premier League reunion.
