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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Ben Davies transfer conundrum as Celtic option sidelined following surprise Liverpool second chance

Out of favour Ben Davies looks to have been offered a surprise career lifeline at Liverpool this summer in pre-season amid speculation over a move to Celtic.

The 26-year-old has been set for a move to the Scottish Premiership before he left Preston for Anfield in January 2021, while Neil Lennon was in charge at Celtic Park. The deal collapsed when Jurgen Klopp' s side stepped in with a £1.6million offer as they look to cover several injury hit defenders for the remainder of the English Premier League, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk sidelined.

The move hasn't worked out for Davies having barely made a squad since he joined with club and he has not kicked a ball for the club in a competitive game. He was named on the Liverpool bench eight times last season after his loan spell at Sheffield United was cut short due to injury, and his time with the Champions League finalists appeared to be up this summer.

However, Davies is finally receiving his chance at Liverpool after Klopp named the defender in his 19-man squad for upcoming preseason training and fixtures. These selected group have already started training and conditioning in preparation for the Reds’ upcoming six-match preseason matches.

Following the sessions, the defender will join first-team regulars including Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz, Thiago and Jordan Henderson on their Asian Summer Tour. They will also face off against RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg during the six-game programme.

Having been brought back into the fold by Klopp, Davies now face a decision on his future and if he wants to battle it out for a first-team spot next season. A place in a side challenging for a place in the Double-winning XI would appear unlikely, unless he can make a strong case in pre-season.

Celtic have been linked with reviving their interest in Davies with Ange Postecoglou on the look out for another centre-back this summer. Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers are the undisputed first-choice partnership, with Stephen Welsh and Christopher Jullien providing back up.

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