A Rangers player discusses the Stoke City deadline day transfer link.
Alex Neil had wanted to reunite with a former Preston North End teammate at Stoke City.
Ben Davies, who recently made his first start of the season for Rangers, claims he was never interested in moving this summer, despite extensive speculation that he was close to joining Stoke City.
The 28-year-old left-sided centre-back was a veteran for Alex Neil at Preston North End before joining Rangers from Liverpool last year for £4 million, where he is anticipated to become a crucial first-team member. It had been a challenging debut season, and he had only been an unused replacement so far this season before a trip to St Johnstone on Saturday, when Rangers ran out 2-0 winners over PSV Eindhoven and Celtic.
Former Potter Jack Butland joined Davies in the starting XI, while former Stoke loan strikers Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo came off the bench, with the latter scoring. Dujon Sterling was an unutilized substitute. The defender now wants to return manager Michael Beale’s faith in him and claims he has something to prove to everyone else.
“I’m not sure what was said above me [within Rangers], but as far as I was concerned, I was a Rangers player and I wasn’t looking to move,” he explained to The Times.
“The manager stated that I was an important part of what he was looking to do in the future.” So I took that to heart and went out and got myself in shape. Since he’s been here, I believe the manager has placed a lot of trust in me.
“I think it’s about time I repaid that by putting in some good performances.” I have a terrific relationship with him and would like to work for him. In terms of fitness, I felt great. My lungs felt OK. I absolutely have a point to show going ahead, and I planned to start proving it on Saturday, but obviously I have a lot more work to do.”
Stoke are thought to have sought to take Davies on loan before the deadline, but sources in Scotland stated that Rangers’ financial demands to get a deal done were too high.
