Rangers now face the possibility of losing one of their young talents to the Premier League for no reason in a disappointing blow for Danny Rolle.
Roll identifies ‘old habits’ affecting Rangers
It was like remembering the game against Falkirk earlier in the season. It was Rolle’s first failure in the Scottish Premiership, with Rangers struggling to hold their own and ending in a 0-0 draw. Dissatisfied with the draw, the German players claimed that the Gers had fallen into “old habits” and lacked “belief”.
We talked a little bit about this at halftime. I said: “Guys, there was a moment where I missed the conviction.” Despite the pressure we put on them, I feel like they sometimes think too much about what’s going on behind their backs.
“But if you do that and you don’t press at 100 percent intensity, you give the opponent a little bit more power. This is also why our games are like a roller coaster, like ups and downs. Sometimes you feel like you’re falling back into old habits. This is also something we have to get rid of.”
The Rangers manager now has the task of getting his side back to winning ways as early as Wednesday when they face Dundee United. Failure to pick up the three points in the next game will only raise concerns that Rangers are back to their poor form when the game is so close.
With just a month to go until the January transfer window opens, any signs of poor form would raise serious questions for Rohr about the quality of his squad.
Following the departure of sporting director Kevin Thelwell, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss is likely to have a bigger say in who takes over in January and who heads for the exit door.
But he has no say in Bailey Rice’s future. The 19-year-old midfielder has reportedly rejected Rangers’ latest contract offer and appears destined to leave the club.
Premier League clubs are chasing cheap deals for Rice
According to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Premier League clubs are currently competing to sign Rice on a free contract when his current contract expires in the summer.
The midfielder is the club’s youngest player to play in the Scottish Premiership, but he is almost certain to leave in 2026 after refusing new terms.
Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion have previously pursued the 19-year-old, but with Sunderland and Aston Villa now eyeing his signature, Rice has a big decision to make.
Rangers’ ‘best player’ needs ‘sideline spell’
The Glasgow Rangers star, who was hailed as the team’s best player, should be left out of the starting XI.
Meanwhile, this is another blow for Rangers, who could see another move away from their academy star. There was a time when Rice seemed to be the future of their midfield. Now, he is leaving before he reaches the peak of his abilities, with zero financial benefit to the club.
Former interim manager Barry Ferguson praised Rice last season, telling reporters he believed the midfielder was a “great talent”. But like everyone else watching in Scotland, Ferguson may have to watch the youngster develop in the Premier League away from Rangers.
