Steven Davis 2.0? 7 gamers who may change into inheritor to Rangers legend

Changing a membership legend isn’t straightforward. Glasgow Rangers are discovering that out the laborious approach as they’ve didn’t adequately exchange icons as soon as they depart the membership.

Alfredo Morelos left in 2023 and the Ibrox aspect haven’t had a goalscorer like him since. Hamza Igamane might buck that development, 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 doubtless want the Scot.

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5 gamers who may go away Rangers this January

The January window may see plenty of 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 critical damage suffered a yr earlier. Honestly, the membership have not had anybody like him within the squad since he performed his closing recreation for the Gers.

With that in thoughts, now we have taken a glance into those that may maybe be the subsequent Davis for the membership.

Amongst these within the checklist are gamers presently on the membership, whether or not within the senior squad or B crew, gamers who’ve been linked with a transfer to Ibrox, together with a few shock decisions.

1

Isaac Value

Normal Liege

Northern Irish. Midfielder. Able to contributing defensively and going forwards. If anybody suits the invoice of changing Davis, it’s Isaac Value.

The teenager is presently plying his commerce in Belgium for Normal Liege, but the Mild Blues have been linked with making a possible swoop for him this January.

As per Sofascore, Value has created 5 large probabilities domestically, averages 1.1 key passes per recreation and succeeds with 44% of his dribbles, echoing the Davis of between 2008-2011, who beloved to burst ahead usually.

The midfielder recovers 4.9 balls, makes 2.1 tackles and wins a median of 5 duels per recreation within the prime 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 couple 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 principally performed deeper for Osijek up to now 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 just like that of Davis.

4 objectives and 4 assists within the Croatian prime flight this season proves he loves bursting ahead into the ultimate third as usually as doable.

Soldo isn’t shy defensively, both. He averages 3.5 ball recoveries per recreation domestically, whereas making 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and successful 5.4 duels per recreation for his membership, indicating that he’s a participant who Clement must be trying to carry to Scotland sooner relatively than later.

A lot will rely upon the funds afforded to the supervisor this month, particularly with monetary points surrounding the membership, however signing gamers resembling Soldo and creating them into top-class skills 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 related statistics throughout a variety of metrics per 90, together with pictures (0.74 v 0.92), move success charge (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 positive participant to signal a couple 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 switch goal who may flip into the subsequent 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 sensible and inside the membership’s present funds, particularly if a number of first-team squad members are offered through the winter window.

Aged 23, Belcar is on the good age to hitch a membership like Rangers, the place he’ll expertise European soccer frequently.

Within the Croatian prime flight, Belcar averages 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and wins 4.4 whole duels per recreation – successful charge of 58% – which signifies how efficient he’s off the ball within the coronary heart of the midfield.

In the direction of the tip 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 talents.

With three objectives within the Croatian prime flight, Belcar definitely doesn’t draw back from the attacking aspect of the sport, however it seems his finest place is working as a defensive midfielder.

From a monetary perspective, 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 selected competitors.

The 39-cap Japanese worldwide is arguably the perfect participant on this checklist if considering the extent he has performed at, which suggests the Mild Blues might have much less likelihood of signing him.

Throughout the 2022/23 Champions League, Morita was essentially the most comparable participant to Davis. Throughout a variety of metrics, the duo registered related statistics within the competitors, together with move success charge (79.8% v 77.9%), shot-creating actions (2 v 4), aerial duels received (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 objectives 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 subsequent step up and change into an icon in Glasgow? Solely time will inform.

6

Bailey Rice

Rangers

Whereas the three aforementioned midfielders supply related qualities to Davis, would possibly Clement have the best inheritor to Davis proper beneath his nostril?

Bailey Rice is without doubt one of the brightest younger skills at Ibrox and will maybe have seen extra time on the pitch for the senior aspect 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, changing into the second-youngest participant to ever characteristic in a match for Rangers.

Solely two extra probabilities have arrived within the first crew since then, however his capability 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 planet to succeed Davis within the coronary heart of the Rangers midfield.

7

Nico Raskin

Rangers

If there’s anybody within the present squad who could possibly be the inheritor obvious to Davis, Nico Raskin is unquestionably the standout candidate.

One motive why the Mild Blues have struggled towards Celtic in recent times just isn’t having the ability to management the midfield, with Davis the grasp at this.

Throughout the 3-0 Outdated Agency triumph firstly of the yr, Raskin was given the captain’s armband and produced a show the Northern Irishman can be happy with.

Throughout the recreation, the Belgian made two key passes, received 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 keep this present kind till the summer season, the Ibrox aspect might must brace themselves for a couple of bids coming of their route. Nevertheless, preserve maintain of him, they usually might have a midfield stalwart for years to return.