The transfer windows work in mysterious ways, don’t they? Managers – from all corners of England’s football pyramid – use the trading period to meticulously assemble their squad ahead of the start of the campaign or for the second half of said season.
Especially in the Premier League, when millions and millions of pounds are spent by each club, it’s an opportunity for all 20 clubs to bolster their squad – whether that’s to plug an injury-inspired gap or strengthen a position in dire need.
So, all that said, remember Liverpool’s acquisition of the central defender, Ben Davies, in the summer of 2022? Well, you’d be completely forgiven for allowing it to escape your memory given that he never played a single game for the Reds.
But what’s the Barrow-in-Furness-born ace up to nowadays? He was once desperately wanted by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp but, in truth, he struggled to pull up trees at Anfield before departing Merseyside a mere year-and-a-half later.
Davies’ Post-Anfield Career: Rangers and Birmingham City
Current speculation over whether he’ll make his Birmingham spell permanent
On signing for the reigning champions of the English top flight, Davies said: “I want to come in and play games to start with. I want to get my foot in the door and make myself a Premier League player rather than obviously a Championship player.
“And then take it from there really… I’m sure a lot of fans and people don’t know [me], or haven’t seen me play.
By virtue that Jordan Henderson and Fabinho – who were both central midfielders, and some of the best that Liverpool had an offer, by trade – were preferred over Davies, even when he was fit, it proved that he had no future for the English behemoths.
Not only that, but Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams, who are currently on loan at Derby County and Morecambe respectively, were also favoured over the now-29-year-old, who is regarded as the 37th-best signing of Liverpool’s Klopp-led era.
His game time on Merseyside – or lack thereof – combined with his loan spell at 22-game Sheffield United meant that his fever dream was over – and that’s when Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers came knocking in the summer of 2022.
Fifty-eight appearances for the Gers later and he moved to Birmingham City on loan and, per BirminghamLive, the prospect of staying south of the border is – despite the lack of thought – an enticing one. “I haven’t thought about it,” he said before adding:
“I came on loan to play a lot of games and hopefully help Birmingham back up and have a good season. I’m happy with how it’s going here, but I’ll think about that and consider all my options in the summer.
“I’m going to work here until the summer, then see what my agent says. I’m really enjoying it here, so if the opportunity arose, I’d consider it seriously. But it’s not really my decision at the minute, so I’m going to wait and then see what’s happening.”
Liverpool’s addition of Davies is one that, for all the wrong reasons, will remain in the club’s mythology for simply how bizarre it was. That said, the fact that they managed to make a profit upon selling him means that it wasn’t necessarily a waste of time.
