Rangers transfer rumour DENIED by manager

Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy has denied rumours that his side are in negotiations to sign Rangers youngster Bailey Rice in 2026.

The 19-year-old defensive midfielder is into the final year of his current contract at Ibrox and he has been widely tipped to leave the Scottish giants on a Bosman deal in search of pastures new.

Rice has made 16 first-team appearances for Rangers, but he has only featured on two occasions so far this term and he has been touted to leave his boyhood club next year amid significant transfer interest from several top clubs.

Rangers have been unable to agree fresh terms with the teenager and his contract situation has alerted the likes of Aston Villa, Cardiff, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion.

That is according to The Daily Mail, who claim that all four clubs have made checks on Rice in recent weeks due to the fact he will be available on a free transfer next summer.

However, Barry-Murphy has poured cold water on such speculation. When asked if there’s any truth behind rumours that his side are eager to sign Rice next year, he bluntly told Wales Online: “No. Nothing at all.”

Brian Barry-Murphy issues Cardiff transfer message

Barry-Murphy was also asked about Cardiff youngsters Dylan Lawlor, who is wanted by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and several others according to TEAMtalk, and Ronan Kpakio, who is being watched by several top clubs too.

“It would be naive to think there wouldn’t be clubs watching those young players and being interested in what happens,” he admitted.

“Nothing’s changed from my point of view in terms of how important those players are for our club and how much opportunity we feel we can give them to play, which is always the most important thing.

“I’ve been at clubs where I’ve been on the other side of this – where the big clubs come and take those players because they can offer them a lot more, especially in the current climate.

“But if we can show those players, and the ones already playing at first-team level, that we can give them regular opportunities, then it carries a lot of power in what is a very complex situation sometimes with young players.”

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