Leeds United join Aston Villa with transfer interest in Rangers player amid latest contract update

Rangers summer transfer business could be put on hold following reports that manager Danny Rohl may be heading for the Ibrox exit door.

The former Sheffield Wednesday boss has been approached by Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg to become their new head coach. That would obviously force the Glasgow club to prioritise finding a replacement for the German before bringing in any more new signings.

Meanwhile, one current Rangers player is attracting plenty of interest from clubs south of the border. Another Premier League team are said to have expressed an interest in the midfielder amid a recent update on his current contract status.

Leeds United join Aston Villa with transfer interest in Rangers midfielder

According to a report from Football Insider, another English Premier Club are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice. It claims that Leeds United are ‘keeping a close eye’ on the Scotland under 21 international at a time when the Ibrox outfit are going to ‘pull the plug’ on a new contract offer.

The Yorkshire club join Aston Villa in reportedly keeping tabs on the 19-year-old who made just one first team appearance for Rangers last season. His current contract is due to expire this summer.

Talks have apparently been ongoing for a number of weeks with Rangers said to be keen to extend his deal. However, it now looks like discussions could be over, opening the door for interested clubs like Leeds and Villa to swoop in.

The report comes via former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown who indicated that Leeds were interested in the teenage midfielder. He claims that Daniel Farke is keen to add ‘more youth’ to his Elland Road squad ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Promising Rangers midfielder linked with move after injury hampers potential breakthrough season

Rice looked on track for a breakthrough season with Rangers last campaign but a knee injury early in the season would end up ruling him out for most of the campaign. He had made 12 first team appearances during the 2024/25 season including in the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United and Nice.

The Scotland youth international, who has represented his country from under 16 up to under 21 level, was snapped up by Rangers from Motherwell’s youth academy. He signed his first professional contract in 2023 and made his first team debut in February that year when he came off the bench in a 3-0 win away to Livingston as an 88th minute replacement for Glen Kamara.

He made two further Scottish Premiership appearances in the 2024/25 season, both as a late substitute, against Motherwell and St Mirren. He received his first call up to the Scotland under 21 squad in March last year and has been capped twice at that level.

The transfer window officially opens in both Scotland and England on June 15. It comes against the backdrop of the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals which kicked off on Thursday with hosts Mexico beating South Africa 2-0.

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