Between the summer transfer window and January, Rangers offloaded several high-earning players who contributed little to the team. While this freed up space in the squad and reduced the wage bill, many of these departures were only on loan, limiting the financial benefit for manager Philippe Clement.
For some fans, it’s frustrating to see players who underperformed at Rangers thriving elsewhere on loan. However, this is currently one of the few ways Clement can bolster his transfer budget.
Ben Davies impresses as Rangers loanee stays humble
Among the players expected to return to Ibrox in the summer—like Jose Cifuentes, Kieran Dowell, Rabbi Matondo, and Ben Davies—none are likely to have a future at the club. Yet, Davies continues to enjoy an impressive loan spell at Birmingham City, delivering another standout performance in their 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic.
Birmingham’s social media was once again filled with praise, referring to Davies as a “brick wall,” as he reflected on the match:
“It was a tough game. I think we played well in the first half, but the second half was more stop-start. When we needed to dig in and grind out the result, we did that well,” said Davies.
“We’ve done this a few times this season. Sometimes, you need a bit of luck or a moment of brilliance, and Jay (Stansfield) provided that for us. Keeping a clean sheet was particularly pleasing—it starts from the front, and the hard work from the lads up top makes it easier for us at the back. It’s always a full team effort.”
Davies also praised his defensive partner Christoph Klarer:
“Playing alongside him feels great. He’s a key player for us and has featured in the most games this season. We work well as a unit, and the structure of the team helps us support each other.”
Could Rangers cash in on Davies?
At 29, Davies is in his prime as a center-back. Regular game time at Birmingham has allowed him to rediscover the form that once earned him a surprise move to Liverpool and later Rangers. A player doesn’t secure a transfer to a club like Liverpool without consistent performances and a strong reputation.
Given his performances, Birmingham may want to make the move permanent, but his form could spark interest from other clubs, potentially driving up his value. Considering the inflated transfer fees in England, recouping the £4 million Rangers paid Liverpool in 2022 isn’t entirely unrealistic.
