Steven Davis 2.0? 7 players who could become heir to Rangers legend

Replacing a club legend is never easy. Glasgow Rangers are finding this out the hard way as they failed to properly replace icons once they left the club.

Alfredo Morelos left in 2023 and the Ibrox side have not had a goalscorer like him since. Hamza Igamane may buck this trend, but he is still far from replicating Morelos’ exploits in front of goal.

It’s safe to say the Light Blues haven’t had a center back as good as David Weir since he retired in 2012, with perhaps only Connor Goldson coming close, but even in In this case, the majority of supporters would probably prefer the Scot.

Steven Davis is a player who contributed to the club’s success in two distinct periods. The Northern Irishman has played in two UEFA Cup/Europa League finals, while winning four league championships and a handful of domestic cups.

He retired in January 2024 after struggling to return to full fitness following a serious injury suffered a year earlier. Truth be told, the club hasn’t had anyone like him in the team since he played his last game for the Gers.

With that in mind, we took a look at who could perhaps be the club’s next Davis.

Among those on the list are players currently at the club, whether in the senior or B team, players who have been linked with a move to Ibrox, as well as a few surprise picks.

1

Isaac Price

Liège Standard

Northern Irish. Midfielder. Able to contribute defensively and moving forward. If anyone fits Davis’ replacement, it’s Isaac Price.

The youngster currently plies his trade in Belgium for Standard Liège, but the Light Blues have been linked to the creation of potential go for him in January.

According to Sofascore, Price created five big chances domestically, on average 1.1 key passes per game and was successful on 44% of his dribbles, echoing the Davis of 2008-2011, who often liked to rush forward.

The midfielder recovers 4.9 balls, makes 2.1 tackles and wins an average of 5 duels per game in the top flight, showing he can be effective when he’s not on the ball – and that’s the kind of traits Davis showed in his later years.

Could he be the ideal player to finally fill the void left by the Rangers legend? Only time will tell.

2

Marko Soldo

Osijek

Marko Soldo is another midfielder who was linked with a move to Glasgow as Philippe Clément aims to strengthen his options in midfield.

Content creator Profile of Kai Watson the player a few months before being linked with the Gers, saying: “Marko Soldo can play as a defensive six up to an attacking eight.

“He has mostly played deeper for Osijek so far this season. His strengths allow him to be versatile in the role he takes on in midfield.”

This flexibility in midfield could see the Croatian starlet shine in the heart of the Light Blues pitch, with his skills clearly similar to those of Davis.

Four goals and four assists in the Croatian top flight this season proves that he likes to get into the final third as often as possible.

Soldo isn’t shy defensively either. He averages 3.5 ball recoveries per game domestically, while making 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and winning 5.4 duels per game for his club, indicating that he is a player which Clement should seek to bring to Scotland as soon as possible.

A lot will depend on how much money the manager is given this month, especially with the financial issues surrounding the club, but recruiting players such as Soldo and developing them into top-class talents will see them turn a solid profit in the long run. term.

3

Josip Misic

Dinamo Zagreb

Croatian midfielder Josip Misic may not be officially on the Rangers’ radar, but he fits Davis’ required skill set.

Indeed, during the 2021/22 Europa League season, the 30-year-old was, according to FBref, the eighth most comparable rank Davis player, who played in his second European final with the Gers.

Davis and Misic recorded similar statistics on a range of per-90 metrics, including shots (0.74 vs. 0.92), passing success rate (87.8% vs. 84.2%), shot-creating actions (1.37 vs. 1.96) and touches in the middle third (252 against 292) in the second European championship. level club competition.

Judging by these stats, Misic might even have been a good player to sign a few years ago in anticipation of Davis’ retirement, especially since he fits the bill when comparing the two .

4

Leon Belcar

Varazdin

Another transfer target who could become Rangers’ next Davis is another Croatian midfielder: Leon Belcar.

President of Varaždin claims that no official offer have been made for the player, but it may take an offer of around €700,000 (£580,000) to secure his signature, which seems quite realistic and within the club’s current budget, especially if multiple members of the first team are sold during the winter. window.

Aged 23, Belcar is at the ideal age to join a club like Rangers, where he will regularly discover European football.

In the Croatian elite, Belcar averages 1.4 tackles1.1 interceptions and wins 4.4 duels in total per game – a success rate of 58% – which indicates how effective he is with the ball in the heart of midfield.

Towards the end of his career, Davis dropped deeper and deeper, compensating for his lack of pace by using his wonderful vision and improved defensive abilities.

With three goals in the Croatian top flight, Belcar is certainly not afraid of the attacking side of the game, but it seems his best position is as a defensive midfielder.

From a financial perspective, a deal to sign the 23-year-old makes perfect sense, especially since he could still improve considerably.

5

Hidemasa Morita

Sports CP

Like Misic, Hidemasa Morita displayed Davis-like traits compared to him in one specific competition.

THE Japanese international of 39 selections is arguably the best player on this list when you take into account the level he played at, meaning the Light Blues might be less likely to sign him.

During the 2022/23 Champions League, Morita was the most comparable player in Davis. Through a range of measures, the the duo recorded similar statistics in the competition, including pass success rate (79.8% vs. 77.9%), shot creation actions (2 vs. 4), aerial duels won (both 4) and touches (131 against 181).

Rangers were eliminated in the group stage after suffering six defeats in six matches, scoring just two goals in the process. Sporting CP ended up powering the Europa League that season after finishing third in their group.

Finding a true heir for Davis proves more difficult than expected. Could this transfer window provide the answer for the board and manager, or is there a player in the current set-up at Ibrox who can take the next step and become an icon in Glasgow? Only time will tell.

6

Bailey Rice

Rangers

While the three aforementioned midfielders offer similar qualities to Davis, could Clement have Davis’ ideal heir right under his nose?

Bailey Rice is one of the brightest young talents at Ibrox and perhaps should have seen more time on the pitch for the senior team since Clement took over in October 2023.

Rice joined Motherwell in 2022, with the Gers beating many clubs with his signing, and he went on to make his senior debut under Michael Beale aged just 16 years and four months, becoming the second youngest player having never appeared in a match for Rangers.

Since then, only two more first-team chances have come his way, but his ability to shield all four defenders while making assists in the final third means Rice has shades of Davis about him.

At just 18 years old, Rice has all the talent in the world to succeed Davis at the heart of the Rangers midfield.

7

Nico Raskin

Rangers

If there’s anyone on the current team who could be Davis’ heir apparent, Nico Raskin is surely the standout candidate.

One of the reasons the Light Blues have struggled against Celtic in recent years is their inability to control the midfield, with Davis being the master of this.

In the 3-0 Old Firm triumph earlier this year, Raskin was handed the captain’s armband and put in a performance the Northern Irishman would be proud of.

During the match, the Belgian made two key passeswon 60% of his ground duels and made three tackles, demonstrating his tenacious nature as he never allowed the Celtic midfielder to settle at Ibrox.

It was a true captain’s display, and if he can maintain his current form into the summer, the Ibrox side may need to prepare for a few offers coming his way. However, keep him, and they could have a mainstay in midfield for years to come.