Ben Davies is arguably the best example of what many people think has gone wrong with Rangers over the previous three seasons.
Rangers accepted a £4 million agreement to buy Ben Davies from Liverpool in the summer of 2022, but due to injuries and a lack of consistency, the defender has failed to return the investment.
There are serious doubts about how the Ibrox club used the millions earned from their Europa League Final run, Champions League qualifying, and multiple high-profile player transactions.
But, as Rangers try to finally trim their losses and take millions off their salary cost, Ben Davies is making a mark on loan at Birmingham City.
Rangers were relieved when Ben Davies signed a late loan agreement with League One Birmingham City after impressing throughout the summer transfer window.
That transaction has freed up costs at Ibrox, helping the club reduce its pay bill by an astounding £6 million by the start of the 24/25 season.
According to Salary Sport, Davies was one of the highest-paid players in Scottish football, earning £27k or about £1.4 million every season despite failing to meet the minimal requirements at Ibrox.
As Rangers take a new route in the transfer market, it’s vital to remove players like Ben Davies off the salary sheet permanently
The Birmingham Mail gave Davies a positive assessment after the 1-0 win over Exeter, awarding him Man of the Match.
Claiming that’such has been his defensive impact’ in recent months, ‘it is difficult to picture a Blues squad without Davies’.
The views are supported by FotMob, who gave Davies a 7.5 rating for his performance against Exeter.
The centre-back completed 87% of his passes and won 7/11 duels, including 50% in the air.
Ben Davies has made 22 appearances for Birmingham this season, starting nine of the past 10 League One games for the English third-tier league leaders.
Rangers seek to slash around £4.5 million from their payroll cost.
Rangers will try to get Ben Davies off the club’s payroll as Philippe Clement seeks to rebuild the team in his youthful Ibrox vision.
However, the 29-year-old centre-back isn’t the only English Championship struggler Rangers are hoping to offload between now and the summer transfer window.
Rangers, under Ross Wilson’s sporting directorship and then Michael Beale’s management, bolstered their roster with overrated players from south of the border who have suffered under the weight of expectation at Ibrox.
The current Nottingham Forest director also signed several of these players to large contracts, which has hampered Rangers’ transfer market.
Kieran Dowell and Rabbi Matondo have subsequently been advised they may leave Ibrox and make roughly £2 million combined every season, contributing virtually nothing.
Tom Lawrence has also been linked with Besiktas this January, with the Welsh international earning a reported £22,000 per week, or more than £1.1 million every season.
If Rangers can permanently get rid of Ben Davies, Kieran Dowell, Rabbi Matondo, and Tom Lawrence, they will save more than £4.5 million on their wages.
This may then be invested on young players who can compete in the Scottish Premiership and earn the club a fortune in future sales.
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