Rangers defender Ben Davies faces an uncertain future – especially with Stoke City deciding to axe his top suitor Alex Neil on Sunday.
Rangers may be plotting defensive changes heading into 2024.
Connor Goldson remains a fixture of the Rangers back line but finding a long-term partner for him has to be the next step.
Leon Balogun and John Souttar are unlikely to be the long-term solutions for Rangers and, sadly, it looks like Ben Davies won’t be either.
Signed from Liverpool for £4million in 2022, Davies was the left-footed centre back addition after Calvin Bassey’s move to Ajax.
Previously excellent for Preston North End, Davies has been unable to rediscover the form he showed before joining Liverpool in January 2021.
Ben Davies exit route surely closed as Stoke City axe Alex Neil
The 28-year-old has only started four league games this season and only one since Philippe Clement’s appointment in October.
Davies will surely be on the move from Ibrox in 2024 but his most likely exit route now appears to be closed.
Stoke City have been very interested in signing Davies and even failed with a deadline-day move for the defender.
The Herald claimed that Rangers rejected an approach from Stoke, who wanted to take Davies on loan.
The driving force behind Stoke’s move was boss Alex Neil, who coached Davies at PNE and coached him up to become a Liverpool player.
Stoke may well have revisited a move in January with Davies seemingly out of the plans at Rangers.
However, Stoke have now confirmed that they have sacked former Hamilton Academical boss Neil.
Four defeats in a row has proven to be the end for the Scot, who quit Sunderland for Stoke in August of last year.
Stoke are also expected to review the future of technical director Ricky Martin, meaning their transfer planning for January could look very different.
Neil was the last manager to show a firm interest in taking Davies away from Rangers but having lost his job at Stoke, the defender’s future now seems uncertain.
