JUST NOW: Upon completion of the loan transfer, defender David Edgar offers an update about his permanent departure from Rangers.
David Edgar claims that the transfer of Rangers defender Ben Davies to Birmingham City is merely a simple loan agreement between the two teams. On Sunday, August 25, the Heart and Hand host revealed via X that the Englishman’s short-term move to St Andrew’s did not entail a choice or duty to remain south of the border indefinitely.
The former Liverpool defender has signed with Birmingham City on a loan agreement that will last until the end of the current campaign. At this point, the transfer is still pending international clearance. According to reports, Philippe Clement will have more flexibility to add players to his first team roster before the August 30 transfer deadline thanks to Davies’ departure [Daily Record, 23 August].
For Ben Davies’ departure before the Ibrox transfer deadline, how much did Rangers receive? A permanent loan swap for Davies would have been ideal for Rangers, as it is obvious that the Englishman is not part of Clement’s long-term plans at Ibrox.
Despite having few choices at center back right now—Robin Propper and Leon Balogun may be out for some time—the Gers manager was willing to let the former Liverpool player go for a while. Finding a method to remove their highest paid players from the salary bill was the most crucial thing the Gers needed to do this summer. Davies has never looked especially at ease in a Light Blues shirt when he has played.
Rangers will have at least moved some of the center-back’s salary from Ibrox into League One, regardless of whether a permanent condition was included in this deal. Hopefully, he won’t be the only player leaving Glasgow before the transfer window closes. Clement’s team has to raise as much money as possible in order to make a few more last-minute acquisitions before the deadline.