Chris Jack explains why Ben Davies’ departure from the Rangers never happened.

According to Chris Jack of Rangers Review, Rangers defender Ben Davies was extensively linked with a move away from Ibrox late in the summer window but had no desire to leave the club.

The journalist claimed in his column on September 8 that Stoke City’s loan offer did not fulfill Rangers’ financial standards, despite Alex Neil’s desire to reunite with the defender he managed at Preston North End.

It is also reported that had Davies left, the club would have moved to replace him with a new signing, in what would have been a dramatic end to a busy transfer window for Rangers.

A crowded transfer window could have been even busier.

With the news that Rangers would have moved to sign a new defender if Davies had chosen to leave Ibrox, curiosity will mount as to who the shortlist of replacements would have been, and whether they would have been a step up on the former Preston player.

While it appears doubtful that a new defender would disrupt the current pairing of Connor Goldson and John Souttar, new signings typically provide an opportunity for progress, and after a difficult start to the season, perhaps a new centre-back would have helped.

The club were heavily linked with a move for Leicester City’s Australia international defender Harry Souttar, brother of John, but nothing ever materialised on that front despite some heavy speculation suggesting that move could have been on the cards.

As it stands, though, Davies remains the reserve option alongside Nigerian defender Leon Balogun who made a return to the club on a free transfer in the summer window. They will look to provide the necessary cover for the main two options.

Michael Beale Is Contradicting Himself Feels Former Top Flight Striker

Former top-flight star John Hartson believes that Rangers boss Michael Beale contradicts his claims that he tries to remain consistent with the starting line-up by frequently altering it.

Despite Beale’s spending spree in the recently closed transfer window, Rangers have failed to look convincing enough to challenge for the Scottish Premiership title so far.

The Gers boss has always emphasised the importance of maintaining consistency in the starting line-up to bring out the best in the team.

Hartson thinks that Beale has been contradicting himself by constantly changing his Rangers starting line-up.

The ex-striker believes that the Gers boss needs to pick his best eleven players who he can trust and stick with them by showing perseverance to improve Rangers’ game.

“I think he contradicts himself because he likes to say I want to be consistent with my team,” Hartson remarked on the Go Radio Football Show.

“But he’s always changing and doesn’t know who his best team is.”The first thing he must do is field his top eleven players.

“The players he feels he can trust, and that may not be enough, but he’s still got to keep going.”

Rangers sit fourth in the Scottish Premiership, four points behind Celtic, and Beale faces a critical stretch following the international break.