Birmingham City closing in on Rangers transfer as structure of deal revealed | OneFootball

The Blues look to be closing in on a new centre-back signing

Rangers defender Ben Davies looks set to complete a move to Birmingham City before the summer transfer window closes.

That's according to a report from The Daily Record, who say that the 29-year-old is set to join the Blues on an initial loan deal, that could become permanent further down the line.

Davies joined Rangers from Liverpool back in the summer of 2022, having never made an appearance for the Anfield club after signing from Preston North End in the 2021 winter window.

He has since made 58 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, scoring once in that time, although he found game time hard to come by last season.

Now, however, it seems as though the 29-year-old could be on the move again in the final days of the current market.

Birmingham City close in on Rangers transfer deal

As per this latest update, Birmingham are now close to completing a deal to sign Davies from Rangers this summer.

It is claimed that the centre-back would join the Blues on an initial loan deal, with the option to make that move permanent at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Manager Chris Davies is apparently keen to complete the deal quickly, with his side set to travel to Brisbane Road to face Leyton Orient on Saturday afternoon.

As things stand, there are still two years remaining on the centre-back's contract with Rangers, securing his future at Ibrox until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

That does give the Scottish giants scope to negotiate a deal for his departure from Glasgow this summer.

Following their relegation from the Championship to League One, it has been a busy summer for Birmingham in the transfer window.

The Blues have already completed the 12 first-team signings this summer, as they look to immediately win promotion back to the second tier of English football.

On the pitch, they have taken four points from their first two league games of the campaign, putting them seventh in the early standings.

Ben Davies would be a good addition at St Andrew's

It does feel as though this would be an excellent piece of business for Birmingham if they can indeed get it done.

As busy as they have been in the transfer window this summer, they are still lacking in depth at centre-back.

They currently have just three natural senior options in the centre of their defence, in the form of Dion Sanderson, Krystian Bielik and Christoph Klarer.

As a result, they do need at least one more option in that position, in order to cope with the demands of a long season where they will have so much expectation on them.

Getting Davies in will give Birmingham that depth they need, with a player who has plenty of experience and proven ability at a higher level than League One.

That ought to mean he will be a major asset for the Blues this season, and the option to buy included in the deal means that could be the case for some time to come as well.

With all that in mind, it does therefore feel as though this is yet another statement of intent from Birmingham in this summer's transfer window.