Rangers: Ben Davies ‘out of the picture’ at Ibrox as Philippe Clement transfer verdict emerges
Rangers defender Ben Davies is “out of the picture” at Ibrox and Philippe Clement will look to replace the centre-back this summer, according to Barry Ferguson
The 28-year-old hasn’t played for the Light Blues since featuring in their Europa League win over Real Betis in December, remaining rooted to the Ibrox bench without so much of a look in over the last four months.
Despite Connor Goldson’s poor display against Celtic in the Gers’ Old Firm derby draw, Ferguson believes the 28-year-old will remain in the cold at Ibrox and expects Clement to add to his backline in the transfer window.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (8 April, 1:13:18) he said: “I think he’s the type of manager who looks at the spine of his team and that’s the most important part.
“I think those are areas of the pitch that Rangers will be looking to strengthen. Ben Davies looks like he’s out of the picture, obviously, Balogun is a year older, and Connor Goldson’s what 31, 32?
“So I do think the centre-back area is somewhere the manager will look to strengthen.”
Will Ben Davies leave Rangers in the summer transfer window?
It has been clear for some time now that Clement simply doesn’t rate Davies and had the Light Blues had more defensive cover either in the summer or in January, the Englishman would have likely already left Ibrox.
While Goldson, Leon Balogun and John Souttar have all enjoyed slightly shaky moments this season, Davies has looked the least comfortable of the group in defence and he simply cannot be trusted to start week in and week out at Ibrox.
His contract in Glasgow still has another two years to run so the Light Blues will have to find a suitor willing to take him on this summer, which may be easier said than done given his lack of competitive football so far this season.
Hopefully, the Gers will be able to get him off of the wage bill early on in the window so Clement can use those resources to get a new centre-back through the door.
While the current options may be enough for the remainder of this season, they cannot be the only defenders available next year.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has shared his immediate reaction to Celtic’s SFA complaint after the Old Firm derby
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