Changing a membership legend is rarely simple. Glasgow Rangers are discovering that out the exhausting means as they’ve didn’t adequately change 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 development, however he’s nonetheless a way away from replicating Morelos’ feats in entrance of objective.
It is secure to say that the Gentle Blues have not had a centre-back pretty much 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 choose the Scot.
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5 gamers who might go away Rangers this January
The January window might 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 last recreation for the Gers.
With that in thoughts, we’ve got taken a glance into those that might maybe be the subsequent 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 |
By way of Transfermarkt | |||
Amongst these within the checklist are gamers at the moment 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 matches the invoice of changing Davis, it’s Isaac Value.
The teenager is at the moment plying his commerce in Belgium for Normal Liege, but the Gentle Blues have been linked with making a possible swoop for him this January.
As per Sofascore, Value has created 5 huge possibilities domestically, averages 1.1 key passes per recreation and succeeds with 44% of his dribbles, echoing the Davis of between 2008-2011, who cherished to burst ahead usually.
The midfielder recovers 4.9 balls, makes 2.1 tackles and wins a mean of 5 duels per recreation within the prime flight, demonstrating that he might be efficient when not on the ball – and these have been the type of traits that Davis confirmed throughout his later years.
Might he be the proper 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 just a few 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 to date this season. His strengths permit him to be versatile within the function he takes up within the midfield.”
This flexibility in midfield might see the Croatian starlet shine within the coronary heart of the pitch for the Gentle 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 ought to be seeking to carry to Scotland sooner relatively than later.
A lot will rely upon the price range afforded to the supervisor this month, particularly with monetary points surrounding the membership, however signing gamers comparable to Soldo and growing 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, throughout the 2021/22 Europa League season, the 30-year-old was, in response to FBref, the eighth-most comparable participant to Davis, who performed in his second European last 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 fee (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 just a few years in the past in preparation for Davis’s retirement, particularly contemplating he matches the invoice when the 2 are in contrast.
4
Leon Belcar
Varazdin
One other switch goal who might 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 life like and throughout the membership’s present price range, particularly if a number of first-team squad members are offered throughout the winter window.
Aged 23, Belcar is on the good age to hitch a membership like Rangers, the place he’ll expertise European soccer regularly.
Within the Croatian prime flight, Belcar averages 1.4 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and wins 4.4 whole duels per recreation – a hit fee 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 talents.
With three objectives within the Croatian prime flight, Belcar definitely doesn’t draw back from the attacking facet of the sport, but it surely seems his greatest place is working as a defensive midfielder.
From a monetary standpoint, a deal to signal the 23-year-old makes good sense, particularly as he might 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 worldwide is arguably one of the best participant on this checklist if taking into consideration the extent he has performed at, which implies the Gentle 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 fee (79.8% v 77.9%), shot-creating actions (2 v 4), aerial duels received (each 4) and touches (131 v 181).
Rangers have been knocked out on the group phases 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. Might 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, may Clement have the best inheritor to Davis proper underneath his nostril?
Bailey Rice is among the brightest younger skills at Ibrox and will 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 number of golf equipment to his signature, and he went on to make his senior debut underneath Michael Beale aged simply 16 years and 4 months, changing into the second-youngest participant to ever function in a match for Rangers.
Solely two extra possibilities have arrived within the first crew since then, however his means 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 may very well be the inheritor obvious to Davis, Nico Raskin is definitely the standout candidate.
One motive why the Gentle Blues have struggled in opposition to Celtic in recent times shouldn’t be with the ability to management the midfield, with Davis the grasp at this.
Throughout the 3-0 Outdated Agency triumph firstly of the 12 months, Raskin was given the captain’s armband and produced a show the Northern Irishman can be pleased 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 facet might need to brace themselves for just a few bids coming of their route. Nonetheless, hold maintain of him, they usually might have a midfield stalwart for years to return.
