Eyebrows might have been raised when it emerged Liverpool had placed a £4m asking-price on Ben Davies’ head earlier this summer.
After all, the defender only cost the Reds an initial £500,000 when signed from Preston North End 18 months ago and had failed to ever make a competitive appearance for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Loaned to Sheffield United last season, the centre-back endured a mixed stint as the manager who signed him, Slavisia Jokanovic, swiftly lost his job and he was limited to 23 Championship appearances as the Blades suffered defeat in the play-offs.
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That didn’t stop the defender from being the subject of vast interest back at Anfield, though, with Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Celtic all credited as the 26-year-old sat out Liverpool ’s pre-season tour of the Far East as a result.
However, it was Rangers who won the race for Davies’ signature after agreeing to meet his asking price. Liverpool have banked an initial £3m for the centre-back with a further £1m to potentially follow in add-ons. Having had to accept slightly less than their initial £42.5m and £17m reported asking-prices for Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino, it reiterates the success of sporting director Julian Ward’s negotiations with the Scottish outfit that the club is set to receive their desired £4m package.
And in truth, the Reds partly have fierce rivals Manchester United to thank for the deal they’ve agreed with Rangers for Davies, after the Red Devils’ own transfer deadlines set off a chain reaction which will essentially pay the departing Liverpool man's transfer fee.
New United manager Erik ten Hag wanted to reunite with his former Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martinez, with the Red Devils agreeing a deal worth up to £57m for the Argentina international over the weekend. Having agreed to sell the 24-year-old, the Amsterdam giants then wasted no time in identifying a replacement as they moved for Rangers defender Calvin Bassey.
The ‘Gers are set to pocket up to £22.9m for the Nigeria international. And with that club-record fee burning a hole in their pocket, they in turn opened negotiations with Liverpool before agreeing a £4m package to sign Davies as Bassey’s replacement. As a result, from a certain point of view, Manchester United have essentially funded both Ajax and Rangers’ respective deals.
Having been set for a move to Celtic before Liverpool pounced back in January 2021, Davies is now belatedly getting his move to one of Scotland’s leading sides. And while his switch to Anfield didn’t work out as planned for either player or club, thanks to United’s own move for Martinez, the Reds’ asking-price has been met and the one-time Tranmere Rovers loanee is poised to reignite his career after a strange 18 months on Merseyside.
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