Rangers defender Ben Davies is the subject of late interest from Stoke City with the Potters chasing a loan deal.
The Gers have been very quiet on deadline day with barely even a rumour emerging so far.
We’re into the home stretch now but there could yet be some late business after all.
The Daily Record report that Rangers defender Ben Davies could leave the club with Stoke City keen.
It’s stated that Potters boss Alex Neil is keen to thrash out a deal for Davies before the window slams shut.
That report claims that Davies is surplus to requirements and that Rangers are keen to move him on tonight.
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The reason is that Rangers want to move Davies out in order to bring Leicester City defender Harry Souttar in.
Souttar wants to join Rangers just months after a huge £15million move to Leicester from – ironically – Stoke City.
Souttar isn’t wanted under new Leicester boss Enzo Maresca but Rangers can’t bring him in unless Davies goes – and time is running out.
The Herald now claim that Rangers have actually rejected an approach from Stoke as they attempted to take Davies on loan.
Rangers seemingly aren’t keen on the offer, possibly because it’s a loan or maybe because the fees and loan contributions just aren’t enough.
There isn’t much time for Stoke to come back with a new offer and it looks like Davies will be staying at Rangers at least until January.
Alex Neil key to Ben Davies pursuit
Stoke boss Neil knows Davies very well; they worked together at Preston North End between 2017 and 2021.
Davies was primarily seen as a left back before Neil converted him to play as a centre back and the defender thrived after that switch.
Davies left PNE for Liverpool in January 2021 and PNE struggled after that point, going through a rarely-seen squad overhaul in the middle of the season.
Neil ended up losing his job not long after that but hasn’t forgotten about the quality Davies can possess as a left-footed centre back.
Davies has struggled to recapture his PNE form in recent years and a move to Rangers hasn’t brought him back to his best.
Rangers would love to move Davies on and get Souttar in, but unless there is a major change in the coming hours, it won’t be happening.