Replacing a club legend is not easy at all. Glasgow Rangers They found out the hard way because they failed to redeem the codes properly once they left the club.
Alfredo Morelos left in 2023 and the Ibrox side have not had a top scorer like him since. Hamza Eghamani may buck the trend, but he is still a long way from replicating Morelos' exploits in front of goal.
It's safe to say that the Light Blues haven't had a centre-back as good as David Weir since his retirement in 2012, with perhaps only Conor Goldson coming close, but even then, the majority of fans would likely prefer the Scot.
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One player who contributed to the club's success during two separate spells was Steven Davis. The Northern Irishman played in two UEFA Cup/Europa League finals, winning four league championships and a handful of domestic cups.
He retired in January 2024 after struggling to return to full fitness after suffering a serious injury a year earlier. Frankly, the club haven't had anyone like him in the team since he played his last game for the Gers.
With that in mind, we've taken a look at those who could become the club's next Davis.
|
Steven Davis Rangers stats |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
season |
games |
Objectives |
Helps |
|
2022/23 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
|
2021/22 |
33 |
1 |
1 |
|
2020/21 |
49 |
2 |
3 |
|
2019/20 |
43 |
1 |
3 |
|
2018/19 |
18 |
0 |
3 |
|
2011/12 |
39 |
5 |
14 |
|
2010/11 |
53 |
5 |
12 |
|
2009/10 |
50 |
4 |
16 |
|
2008/09 |
40 |
6 |
12 |
|
2007/08 |
25 |
1 |
6 |
Among those on the list are players currently at the club, either in the first or second team, players who have been linked with a move to Ibrox, along with some surprise selections.
1
Isaac Price
Standard recliner chair
Northern Irish. Midfielder. Able to contribute defensively and move forward. If anyone is fit to replace Davis, it's Isaac Price.
The youngster is currently plying his trade in Belgium for Standard Liège, but the Light Blues have also been Linked to creating potential He pounced on him in January of this year.
According to Sofascore, Price has created five big chances domestically, Averaged 1.1 key passes In every match, he succeeds in 44% of his dribbles, which reflects the performance of Davis between 2008 and 2011, who loved to rush forward a lot.
The midfielder recovers 4.9 balls, makes 2.1 tackles and wins an average of 5 duels per game in the top flight, showing that he can be effective when not on the ball – and these were traits that Davies showed during his final years.
Could he be the perfect player to fill the void left by the Rangers legend? Only time will tell.
2
Marco Soldo
Osijek
Marco Soldo is another midfielder which has been linked With a move to Glasgow as Philippe Clement aims to strengthen his options in midfield.
Content Creator About Kay Watson “Marco Soldo can play as a defensive player up to eight forwards,” the player said a few months before linking up with the Gers.
“He has mostly played deeper for Osijek so far this season. His strengths allow him to be versatile in the role he plays in midfield.”
This flexibility in midfield could see the Croatian star shine in central midfield for the Light Blues, where his skills are clearly similar to those of Davis.
Four goals and four assists In the Croatian First Division this season, he has proven that he likes to push into the final third whenever possible.
Soldo isn't shy defensively either. He averages 3.5 recoveries per game domestically, while making 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and winning 5.4 duels per game for his club, suggesting he is a player Clement should look to bring to Scotland sooner rather than later.
A lot will depend on the budget given to the manager this month, especially with the financial issues surrounding the club, but signing players like Soldo and developing them into top-class talents will ensure them a strong bottom line in the future.
3
Josip Mesic
Dinamo Zagreb
Croatian midfielder Josip Mesic may not officially be on Rangers' radar, but he fits the skill set required of Davies.
In fact, during the 2021/22 Europa League season, the 30-year-old was, according to FBref, the player The eighth most comparable A player for Davies, who played in his second European Final for the Gers.
Davis and Messick Similar statistics were recorded Across a range of metrics per 90, including shots taken (0.74 vs. 0.92), pass success rate (87.8% vs. 84.2%), shot creation movements (1.37 vs. 1.96) and touches in the middle third (252 vs. 292) in Europe's second fixture. Tabqa Club Competition.
Judging from these stats, Mesic might have been a good player to sign a few years ago in preparation for Davis' retirement, especially considering he fits the bill when comparing the two.
4
Leon Belkar
Varazdin
last Move the target whoever can He will turn to Rangers' next Davis is another Croatian midfielder: Leon Belkar.
President of Farazdin He claims there are no official bids It has been presented to the player, however it would require a bid of around €700,000 (£580,000) to secure his signature, which seems fairly realistic and within the club's current budget, especially if several first-team members are sold over the winter. window.
At 23 years old, Belkar is at the ideal age to join a club like Rangers, where he will experience European football on a regular basis.
In the Croatian First Division, Belkar Average 1.4 tackles1.1 interceptions and wins 4.4 total duels per game – a 58% success rate – showing how effective he is off the ball in the heart of midfield.
Towards the end of his career, Davis dropped deeper and deeper, compensating for his lack of speed by utilizing his great vision and improved defensive abilities.
With three goals in the Croatian First Division, Belkar certainly doesn't shy away from the attacking side of the game, but his best position appears to be operating as a defensive midfielder.
Financially, signing the 23-year-old makes perfect sense, especially as he can still improve significantly.
5
Hidemasa Morita
Sporting CP
Like Mesic, Hidemasa Morita has shown similar traits to Davies when compared to him in certain competition.
the 39 Japanese international matches He is arguably the best player on this list if we take into account the level he played at, which means that the Light Blues may have less chance of signing him.
During the 2022/23 Champions League, Murrieta He was the most compared player To Davis. Across a range of metrics, The duo recorded similar statistics In the competition, including pass success rate (79.8% vs. 77.9%), shot creation movements (2 vs. 4), aerial duels won (both 4) and touches (131 vs. 181).
Rangers were eliminated from the group stage after suffering six defeats in their six matches, scoring only two goals in this match. Sporting Lisbon ended up participating in the Europa League that season after finishing third in their group.
Finding a suitable heir for Davis proved more difficult than expected. Could this transfer window provide the answer for the board and manager, or is there a player in the current setup at Ibrox who could take the next step and become an icon in Glasgow? Only time will tell.
6
Billy Rice
Rangers
While the three midfielders mentioned above offer similar qualities to Davies, could Clement have the perfect direct heir to Davies?
Billy Rice is one of the brightest young talents at Ibrox and perhaps should have seen more time on the pitch for the first team since Clement took over in October 2023.
Rice joined from Motherwell in 2022, with the Gers beating a host of clubs to land his signature, and he went on to make his debut under Michael Bell aged just 16 years and four months, becoming the world's number one player. The second youngest player To appear in any Rangers game.
The first team has only had two more chances since then, but his ability to protect the back four while making crucial passes into the final third means Rice has shades of Davis about him.
Still only 18-years-old, Rice has all the talent in the world to succeed Davies at the heart of Rangers' midfield.
7
Nico Raskin
Rangers
If there is anyone on the current team who could be the heir apparent to Davis, Nico Raskin is certainly the leading candidate.
One of the reasons the Light Blues have struggled against Celtic in recent years is their inability to control midfield, which is where Davies excels.
During the Old Firm's 3-0 win at the start of the year, Raskin earned the captain's armband and put in a display the Northern Irishman would be proud of.
During the Belgian match He made two key passesHe won 60% of his ground duels and made three tackles, displaying his stubborn nature as he never allowed the Celtic midfield to settle at Ibrox.
It was a true display of captaincy, and if he can maintain this current form into the summer, the Ibrox outfit may have to brace themselves for some performances coming in his direction. However, keep him, and they could have a solid midfielder for years to come.
