Rangers must surely make a move for Southampton’s Steven Davis
As per a report from Daily Express (h/t The Sun), Scottish giants Rangers are plotting a January move for veteran Southampton midfielder Steven Davis.
The 33-year-old Saints captain has found himself on the fringes of the first-team this term under manager Mark Hughes. As a result, Gers’ manager Steven Gerard is understood to be keen on capitalizing by making an attempt to sign him in the winter transfer window. (h/t The Sun)
Davis started out in Scotland with St. Andrews’ Boys Club at the turn of the millennium, before joining the Aston Villa youth setup in 2001. Having made 98 appearances for Villa’s first-team between 2004 and 2007, the midfielder left for Fulham. He spent six months there before joining Rangers on loan in January 2008.
Having impressed in the rest of the campaign, Davis sealed a permanent move to the Light Blues in the subsequent summer and went on to enjoy a fruitful four-year spell with the Glasgow outfit. The Northern Irishman went on to make 210 appearances for the Gers, scoring 22 goals and setting up 60 more. In the process, he won three Scottish Premiership titles, three Scottish League Cups and two Scottish Cups.
During his time with Rangers, Davis was honoured with the Scottish PFA Player of the Year award in the 2009/10 campaign. However, the midfielder departed after the club’s liquidation in 2012 and joined Southampton. The 33-year-old has been an integral part of the South Coast club ever since, helping them establish themselves as a stable Premier League outfit over the last six seasons.
The Northern Ireland international has survived five managerial changes at St. Mary’s, having played an important role under all of Hughes’ predecessors – Nigel Adkins, Mauricio Pochettino, Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel and Mauricio Pellegrino. Till date, he has made 223 appearances for the Saints, scoring 14 goals and assisting 25.
Rangers have made a solid start to the new season under Gerrard both in domestic and continental competitions. They have plenty of options in the middle of the park. The likes of Ryan Jack, Graham Dorrans, Jordan Rossiter, Andy Halliday, Ross McCrorie – along with summer signing Scott Arfield – and on-loan midfielders Lassana Coulibaly and Ovie Ejaria make for a formidable unit.
However, Dorrans has spent the most of the season on the sidelines and is still out with an injury, while Jordan Rossiter has also returned recently from an injury problem. Andy Halliday has mostly been used as a left-back by Gerrard this term. Apart from Arfield, the Gers’ midfield does lack experience and that is where Davis’ signing could prove to be beneficial.
The Northern Irishman has immense experience having played for more than a decade at the top level and knows the club in and out as well. Versatile enough to operate either in the centre of the park or as a No.10 – and even as a wide player on the right – the 33-year-old will provide options across the pitch for the manager.
His versatility along with his natural leadership qualities could make him a key figure at Ibrox, much like Scott Brown is for the Gers’ arch-rivals Celtic. At 33, he might not be a long-term option but Davis still has a lot to offer and Rangers would definitely benefit from signing him in January.
