Changing a membership legend isn’t straightforward. Glasgow Rangers are discovering that out the exhausting method as they’ve didn’t adequately exchange icons as soon as they depart the membership.
Alfredo Morelos left in 2023 and the Ibrox facet haven’t had a goalscorer like him since. Hamza Igamane might buck that pattern, however he’s nonetheless a way away from replicating Morelos’ feats in entrance of aim.
It is secure to say that the Mild Blues have not had a centre-back nearly as good as David Weir since he retired in 2012, with maybe solely Connor Goldson coming shut, however even then, nearly all of the supporters would probably desire the Scot.
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5 players who could leave Rangers this January
The January window may see quite a few Gers gamers close to the exit door.
One participant who contributed to the membership’s success throughout two separate spells was Steven Davis. The Northern Irishman performed in two UEFA Cup/Europa League finals, whereas successful 4 league championships and a handful of home cups.
He retired in January 2024 after struggling to return to full health following a severe harm suffered a 12 months earlier. Honestly, the membership have not had anybody like him within the squad since he performed his closing sport for the Gers.
With that in thoughts, now we have taken a glance into those that may maybe be the following Davis for the membership.
|
Steven Davis’ Rangers statistics |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Video games |
Objectives |
Assists |
|
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 |
Amongst these within the checklist are gamers at present on the membership, whether or not within the senior squad or B group, gamers who’ve been linked with a transfer to Ibrox, together with a few shock selections.
1
Isaac Worth
Customary Liege
Northern Irish. Midfielder. Able to contributing defensively and going forwards. If anybody suits the invoice of changing Davis, it’s Isaac Worth.
The teen is at present plying his commerce in Belgium for Customary Liege, but the Mild Blues have been linked with making a potential swoop for him this January.
As per Sofascore, Worth has created 5 huge possibilities domestically, averages 1.1 key passes per sport and succeeds with 44% of his dribbles, echoing the Davis of between 2008-2011, who liked to burst ahead usually.
The midfielder recovers 4.9 balls, makes 2.1 tackles and wins a median of 5 duels per sport within the high flight, demonstrating that he will be efficient when not on the ball – and these had been the type of traits that Davis confirmed throughout his later years.
May he be the right participant to lastly fill the void left by the Rangers legend? Solely time will inform.
2
Marko Soldo
Osijek
Marko Soldo is one other midfielder who has been linked with a transfer to Glasgow as Philippe Clement goals to bolster his choices in the midst of the pitch.
Content material creator Kai Watson profiled the participant a number of months previous to being linked with the Gers, saying: “Marko Soldo can play as a defensive six as much as an attacking eight.
“He’s largely performed deeper for Osijek to date this season. His strengths enable him to be versatile within the position he takes up within the midfield.”
This flexibility in midfield may see the Croatian starlet shine within the coronary heart of the pitch for the Mild Blues, together with his skillset clearly much like that of Davis.
Four goals and four assists within the Croatian high flight this season proves he loves bursting ahead into the ultimate third as usually as potential.
Soldo isn’t shy defensively, both. He averages 3.5 ball recoveries per sport domestically, whereas making 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and successful 5.4 duels per sport for his membership, indicating that he’s a participant who Clement must be seeking to deliver to Scotland sooner fairly than later.
A lot will rely on the funds afforded to the supervisor this month, particularly with monetary points surrounding the membership, however signing gamers equivalent to Soldo and creating them into top-class abilities will see them safe a stable revenue additional down the road.
3
Josip Misic
Dinamo Zagreb
Croatian midfielder Josip Misic might not formally be on Rangers’ radar, however he does match the required skillset of Davis.
Certainly, through the 2021/22 Europa League season, the 30-year-old was, based on FBref, the eighth-most comparable participant to Davis, who performed in his second European closing for the Gers.
Davis and Misic registered similar statistics throughout a spread of metrics per 90, together with photographs (0.74 v 0.92), move success price (87.8% v 84.2%), shot-creating actions (1.37 v 1.96) and touches within the center third (252 v 292) in Europe’s second tier membership competitors.
Judging by these statistics, Misic might even have been a fantastic participant to signal a number of years in the past in preparation for Davis’s retirement, particularly contemplating he suits the invoice when the 2 are in contrast.
4
Leon Belcar
Varazdin
One other transfer target who could flip into the following Davis for Rangers is one other Croatian midfielder: Leon Belcar.
The president of Varaždin claims that no official bids have been made for the participant, but it could take a bid of round €700k (£580k) to safe his signature, which seems pretty real looking and inside the membership’s present funds, particularly if a number of first-team squad members are bought through the winter window.
Aged 23, Belcar is on the good age to affix a membership like Rangers, the place he’ll expertise European soccer regularly.
Within the Croatian high flight, Belcar averages 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and wins 4.4 complete duels per sport – successful price of 58% – which signifies how efficient he’s off the ball within the coronary heart of the midfield.
In the direction of the top of his profession, Davis dropped deeper and deeper, making up for his lack of tempo by utilising his great imaginative and prescient and improved defensive skills.
With three targets within the Croatian high flight, Belcar definitely doesn’t draw back from the attacking facet of the sport, but it surely seems his finest place is working as a defensive midfielder.
From a monetary viewpoint, a deal to signal the 23-year-old makes good sense, particularly as he may nonetheless enhance significantly.
5
Hidemasa Morita
Sporting CP
Like Misic, Hidemasa Morita has displayed related traits to Davis when in comparison with him in a particular competitors.
The 39-cap Japanese international is arguably the most effective participant on this checklist if making an allowance for the extent he has performed at, which implies the Mild Blues might have much less probability of signing him.
In the course of the 2022/23 Champions League, Morita was the most comparable player to Davis. Throughout a spread of metrics, the duo registered similar statistics within the competitors, together with move success price (79.8% v 77.9%), shot-creating actions (2 v 4), aerial duels gained (each 4) and touches (131 v 181).
Rangers had been knocked out on the group levels having suffered six defeats of their six matches, scoring simply two targets within the course of. Sporting CP ended up feeding into the Europa League that season after ending third of their group.
Discovering a correct inheritor to Davis is proving to be harder than anticipated. May this switch window present the reply for the board and supervisor, or is there a participant within the present setup at Ibrox who can take the following step up and grow to be an icon in Glasgow? Solely time will inform.
6
Bailey Rice
Rangers
Whereas the three aforementioned midfielders supply related qualities to Davis, may Clement have the best inheritor to Davis proper beneath his nostril?
Bailey Rice is without doubt one of the brightest younger abilities at Ibrox and may maybe have seen extra time on the pitch for the senior facet since Clement took over in October 2023.
Rice joined from Motherwell in 2022, with the Gers beating a bunch of golf equipment to his signature, and he went on to make his senior debut beneath Michael Beale aged simply 16 years and 4 months, turning into the second-youngest player to ever function in a match for Rangers.
Solely two extra possibilities have arrived within the first group since then, however his skill to guard the again 4 whereas making decisive passes into the ultimate third means Rice has shades of Davis about him.
Nonetheless solely 18, Rice has all of the expertise on the earth to succeed Davis within the coronary heart of the Rangers midfield.
7
Nico Raskin
Rangers
If there’s anybody within the present squad who may very well be the inheritor obvious to Davis, Nico Raskin is unquestionably the standout candidate.
One motive why the Mild Blues have struggled towards Celtic lately will not be with the ability to management the midfield, with Davis the grasp at this.
In the course of the 3-0 Previous Agency triumph firstly of the 12 months, Raskin was given the captain’s armband and produced a show the Northern Irishman could be happy with.
In the course of the sport, the Belgian made two key passes, gained 60% of his floor duels and made three tackles, showcasing his tenacious nature as he by no means allowed the Celtic midfield to settle at Ibrox.
It was a real captain’s show, and if he can preserve this present kind till the summer time, the Ibrox facet might should brace themselves for a number of bids coming of their course. Nevertheless, hold maintain of him, they usually might have a midfield stalwart for years to come back.
