If the reports linking Rangers with a move for Hammarby defender Nathaniel Adjei prove to be on the money, then Ben Davies would certainly benefit from ensuring that impressive performance against Sparta Prague is not a one-off but the start of something more long-term and sustainable.
Davies, a £4 million signing from Liverpool in the summer of 2022, produced one of his finest performances for the Glasgow giants in that 2-1 Europa League group-stage victory before the November international break.
The sight of him returning to the bench for the trip to Livingston just three days later, however, felt like a harsh reminder as to where he remains in Philippe Clement’s thinking. So far, Davies has only featured in one of five Scottish Premiership fixtures since Clement replaced Mick Beale in the Ibrox dugout, John Souttar and Leon Balogun seemingly still ahead of him in the pecking order, at least as far as domestic action is concerned.
Davies played only 13 minutes in the Scottish League Cup semi-final victory over Hearts too.
And with Sky Sports reporting that Rangers have sent scouts to Sweden to watch Nathaniel Adjei at close quarters, the next few weeks could yet be the most important in Davies’ Rangers career.
Ben Davies fighting for Rangers future
Adjei, valued at a minimum of £3.5 million by Hammarby, has been a stand-out performer this term. At 6ft 1ins, the broad-shouldered Ghanaian is a physical presence but, crucially for Clement, he is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet too. The sight of Adjei striding into midfield from his left-sided centre-back role is one that will be familiar to avid Allsvekskan viewers.
What’s more, at 21, Adjei is seven years Davies junior, and has barely even scratched the surface of his potential.
“(Adjei) will develop into a top-notch defender, in my opinion,” says former Hammarby coach and now Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes (GhanaSoccerNet).
“We know the talent we have on our hands because he has displayed glimpses of being a top-notch football player.”
Not that he needs it, of course, but Rangers’ Adjei interest should give Davies even more motivation to kick on from that imperious Sparta Prague display, and his eye-catching performances in Europe as a whole.
‘Very pleased with Ben’
The good news, at least, is that Davies already appears to have impressed his new boss, even if Clement’s praise is yet to be translated into regular minutes on the pitch.
“I was very pleased with Ben,” Clement told Football Scotland after Rangers battled to a goalless draw in the Czech capital a few weeks ago. “Those who have (performed) during training will get their chances.
“The chances will come if they show themselves, because we have a lot of games. I am really happy with Ben.”
