Celtic were monitoring Motherwell youngster Bailey Rice as the highly sought after midfielder was viewed as a potential addition to Ange Postecoglou’s roster this summer. However, it is not to be as Record Sport have confirmed that Rice has decided to move across town to the dark side and aid his future development at Ibrox.
Rice was being courted by a number of clubs both in Scotland and England, as the talented midfielder looks to take the next steps in his career progression. Moving from Motherwell to one of the Glasgow club’s always brings an element of risk, and we will all be able to see what the young man is made of in the coming years.
Ange Postecoglou has been setting about reconstructing behind the scenes at Celtic Park and Lennoxtown and youth development and pathway is a key component of his plan to modernise the way Celtic operate. Having lost so many youngsters in the past, it is obvious the Bhoys need help in this department in terms of creating a bridge between youth football and the first-team.
With the news today that Celtic and Ange have already tied up a treble of talented under-18 players which you can read right here on The Celtic Star, more emerging youth players are being targeted by Ange Postecoglou as well as immediate starters for the second act in his redevelopment plan at the club.
Rice may have declined to take up the offer to join the best club in Scotland, but there are plenty of others out there that would jump at the chance, should such a situation arise. Connor Barron of Aberdeen is another who Ange has his eyes on, and as has been discussed on this very publication, is a player we will be keeping a watchful eye on. So not to worry, there’s plenty more fish in the sea.
His loss.
Paul Gillespie