West Ham plotting Rangers transfer raid | OneFootball

A Gers star could be departing Ibrox - and the Hammers are ready to pounce

West Ham United's plans for the 2026-27 Championship season look to be getting closer to being rubber-stamped, and there's likely big changes afoot at the London Stadium.

For the first time since 2012, the Hammers will ply their trade in English football's second tier, and because of that, key player sales are anticipated from Nuno Espirito Santo's squad, which will probably be much-changed from what finished the campaign at home to Leeds United a few weeks ago.

Whilst there's still hopes of keeping captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen, the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are players who could be cashed in on, but they will need to be replaced over the course of the summer transfer window - which is still yet to officially open.

West Ham have their eyes on targets though, and in particular they have their eyes north of the border for one particular target who may be one for the future, rather than for the present.

West Ham eyeing Rangers starlet for bargain summer transfer move

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According to a report from the Daily Record's live transfer blog (June 8, 12:15pm), West Ham are one of a number of clubs keeping tabs on the situation of young Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice.

The east London outfit are not the only side that are credited with interest in the 19-year-old, with Dutch giants Ajax and German side Schalke also in the mix too, but Danny Rohl is still hoping to convince the teen to remain at Ibrox by renewing his contract, which expires this summer - ex-Gers boss Michael Beale is also keen on signing the youngster, having taken over recently as head coach of Zulte Waregem in Belgium.

That means Rice could be snagged by the Hammers for minimal cross-border compensation if they were to be successful in their chase, although they are only eyeing things up as it stands, and have not yet made their move.

Capped by Scotland at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, Rice arrived at Rangers in 2022 from Motherwell, and made his debut for the blue half of Glasgow in February 2023 when he was just 16 years of age, and in all competitions he has represented the first-team 16 times, although he missed much of the 2025-26 campaign after undergoing surgery on a knee injury back in November.

Bailey Rice could be West Ham's future, not present, if he arrives at London Stadium

Rice is no relation to former West Ham star Declan, but they operate in the same midfield position, and there's clearly a bright future for the teenager based on the fact that Danny Rohl wants to keep him around at Ibrox.

As per the report linking West Ham with Rice, Rangers would want the youngster to sign a new contract and return for pre-season training to then work out a plan for him, and if Rohl deemed him not ready to challenge for first-team contention, then a loan would be sought out.

Rice is said to be keen for first-team football in 2026-27, but he likely won't find that at West Ham next season, as they will have plans of returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking - a player who only has 16 first-team appearances to his name and didn't feature at all for Rangers this past season isn't likely going to move the needle in that respect.