Exclusive: Birmingham City backed to seal "wise move" for "phenomenal" Rangers FC player | OneFootball

Ben Davies has enjoyed a fine season on loan at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park

Don Goodman has backed Birmingham City to strike a permanent agreement for centre-back Ben Davies, with the experienced defender excelling throughout his loan stint at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park from Rangers.

Blues' defensive solidity has been a key facet behind such a historic and memorable season in B9, which has seen Chris Davies' men break a plethora of records, with the former Liverpool man forming a formidable partnership alongside fellow summer recruit Christoph Klarer for a large proportion of the League One season.

The 29-year-old was one of 17 new additions made prior to the campaign, as his namesake and first-time manager, was tasked with assembling a "Championship-ready" squad. Now the third-tier title has been wrapped up and then some by those in royal blue, the Birmingham boss and hierarchy will already be planning ahead for a busy summer which owner Tom Wagner has hinted could be record-breaking once more.

Despite not making the EFL's official Team of the Season alongside teammates Klarer, Alex Cochrane and Tomoki Iwata, it has been a fine season for Davies, with plenty of Bluenoses and the defender himself expressing their respective standpoints when it comes to seeing a permanent agreement struck with the SPFL giants.

Don Goodman backs Birmingham City to strike permanent Rangers agreement for Ben Davies

The centre-back put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal at Ibrox back in 2022, meaning he will enter the final year of his contract at the official start date of next season.

At the time of making his temporary switch to the Second City, a loan-to-buy clause wasn't struck as part of the deal, meaning a fresh fee would have to be in place for Davies to return to St Andrew's ahead of Birmingham's return to the second-tier.

Given the success of his initial stint, the aforementioned Goodman believes this deal is a no-brainer for all parties involved.

"I've just looked at Ben Davies' profile and what surprised me the most is he's 29," the Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Football League World. "I remember him breaking through at Preston North End and having a really good season."

"Maybe his career hasn't found a home since then, until he arrived at Birmingham City, where this season he's been phenomenal," Goodman claimed. "He's had a brilliant season.

"For all parties, it would make a whole lot of sense to retain Ben Davies' services," he stated.

"Don't get me wrong, as easy as it's been for Birmingham City and their defence this season, the tests will be way, way more extreme next season.

"But, based on what he's done this season, you couldn't argue that it would be a wise move for all parties," Goodman concluded.

Permanent Ben Davies deal would make a lot of sense for Birmingham City

As Goodman alluded to, Davies is somebody who knows what it takes to succeed in the Championship, having played 151 times in the division previously, where he could also count himself unfortunate to not have received stronger plaudits for his performances at Deepdale.

There is an argument that a high number of Blues' main starting lineup from this season would be capable of making a seamless step-up in class after promotion, with the likes of Davies, Klarer, Cochrane and Ethan Laird at the back all falling under such a category.

The addition of Phil Neumann from Hannover 96 on a pre-contract only echoes the quality which could shine through Birmingham's rearguard next season even before any further additions are made, and it makes total sense for them to push for a permanent transfer which could be achieved on a cut-price basis, with the former Sheffield United loanee stating last month that he would "consider it seriously."