Clement could repeat Rangers’ Davies howler in move for £70k-p/w gem

Clement could repeat Rangers’ Davies howler in move for £70k-p/w gem

After playing Real Betis in the Europa League and Aberdeen in the League Cup final on Sunday,

Glasgow Rangers will play two crucial games in four days.

The truth is that the Gers should be winning both games if they want a good season,

even though many fans would prefer a trophy triumph over fretting about

what European competition the team would be in after Christmas.

A trophy just a few months after taking over would be a fantastic start for Philippe Clement,

who is poised for greatness.

After this week is over, he might start thinking about the January transfer window because

Mason Holgate is a new name that has been connected to a possible move to Scotland.

News on  Rangers transfer: Mason Holgate

Michael Beale had to bolster his backline by adding one or more centre backs during

the summer transfer window. After deadline day,

just Leon Balogun remained, and even though he had a great two years at the club (2020–2022),

his departure on a free transfer the previous year may have made this move seem like a step backward.

The 35-year-old Nigerian has shown well when used, but he is not a long-term solution,

which may mean Clement may want to trade next month.

Mason Holgate, a defender for Everton, is reportedly in the running to

join the Light Blues in the coming weeks after his loan stint at Southampton ended poorly,

according to Football Insider.

The other two teams expressing interest in the 27-year-old, who is paid £70,000 a week,

are Watford and Middlesbrough. Clement may have some competition.

The centre back has only appeared in five games this 2023–24 season,

therefore the Toffees are hoping to bring him back from his loan stint on the south coast.

It seems that the Merseyside team wants to return him to Goodison Park before

they look for a place where he can play more frequently.

Ben-Davies-Rangers

In the core of the defence, Clement currently has choices in Connor Goldson,

Balogun, John Souttar, Ben Davies, and Leon King.

Therefore, a move for Holgate is not justified at this time.

Based on his limited playing time and subpar performances,

Clement might sign the Englishman and repeat the club’s Davies gaffe.

Rangers player Ben Davies’s statistics

The defender, who didn’t play for Liverpool,

was acquired by Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the summer of 2022 for a reported £4 million.

He had a wealth of Championship experience.

With almost 150 games under his belt in the second division and the departure of Calvin Bassey to Ajax,

in addition to a long-term injury to Filip Helander,

the 28-year-old star was viewed as Goldson’s perfect left-footed enforcer partner at the centre of the defence.

His first season in Scotland did not exactly go as planned,

and he was clearly out of his element in the Champions League,

finishing the season ranked sixth for possession lost per game (10.3) and in a lowly 14th place

for tackles per game in the squad (one).

His domestic performances were also not much better.

The English player failed to clear the ball in his own box during a disastrous 3-2 loss to Celtic in April,

effectively ending the team’s hopes of winning the championship.

Kenny Miller, a former professional, criticised this,

saying, “It’s a wonderful finish.” He’s alive, aware, and vicious when the opportunity arises once more.

But Ben Davies’ work is really lacking. He ought to be going there right now.

This season, Davies has only started ten games in all competitions.

In the summer, he came dangerously close to signing a loan deal to Stoke City,

but it was ultimately turned down.

Under Clement, judgement might be out,

but the Belgian coach might be trying to bring in his own players.

But if they want to strengthen their defence, money better spent elsewhere;

Holgate is definitely not the solution.

Mason Holgate’s professional results

As a gifted young player, Holgate joined the Toffees from Barnsley in 2015,

and it appeared that the team had acquired a player who would

eventually establish himself as a mainstay in the first squad.

After joining the senior team on a regular basis in the 2017–18 campaign,

he went on to play 25 Premier League games in the 2019–20,

2020–21, and 2021–2022 seasons, despite a temporary loan at West Bromwich Albion.

Domestic statistics this season	Ben Davies	Mason Holgate
Accurate passes per game	74.3	36.8
Starts	Four	Four
Total duels won per game	6.8	3.8
Possession lost per game	12.8	5.6
Interceptions per game	0.8	1.2

When the defender signed a new contract under Carlo Ancelotti’s direction,

the Italian coach showered the defender with praise, saying,

“He has the quality to be at the top as a defender.”

The defender especially appreciated working under Ancelotti.

He has good physical strength, speed, and mental acuity.

“He is an all-around defender. Despite his youth,

he aspires to get better. He hasn’t made any significant errors in the games [under Ancelotti].

But despite playing in just eight league games the previous season,

Holgate led the team in accurate passes made per game (16.5),

won just 47% of his aerial duels, and gave up possession ten times every game.

The defender has only made four starts for Southampton in the 2023–2024 season,

therefore Clement would be better off steering clear of a player who, based on his statistics,

has been underutilised and doesn’t provide anything new to the defence.

Despite coming from Liverpool, Davies established his reputation in the lower leagues.

However, this did not help him at Rangers,

as he was consistently a lethargic performer and did not live up to expectations.

The Gers might find it difficult to overcome Holgate’s enormous salary,

therefore it would be wiser to use the funds for a somewhat younger player who has far more potential in the future.

The team undoubtedly required additions in every aspect of the squad,

particularly given their terrible luck with injuries since the season began.

However, a move for Holgate needs to be avoided since it may be another Davies-style costly bust from England.

In the next weeks, Clement, 49, will undoubtedly be working assiduously behind

the scenes to bolster his first team roster.

He will undoubtedly have his own goals in mind.

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