Liverpool are ready to let seldom-seen Ben Davies leave on loan with Celtic, Bournemouth and Sheffield United all interested, as reported by Goal.
Two weeks ago, The Athletic claimed Liverpool had no interest in parting with the 26-year-old just seven months after snapping him up in a shock deadline-day deal from Preston North End.
So what’s changed?
Has Davies forced Jurgen Klopp’s hand knowing he’s likely to be behind Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and potentially Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams in Liverpool’s pecking order next season?
As it stands, the reason behind Liverpool’s sudden U-turn remains a mystery.
But it will be music to the ears of many, with clubs on both sides of the border scouring the market for an affordable centre-half.
Someone like Celtic, for instance.
Ben Davies on the radar of Celtic and Sheffield United
The Glasgow giants came within a whisker of landing Davies in a bargain £2 million deal in January before Liverpool swooped.
And Goal believes, with the former Tranmere Rovers man now available again, Celtic are likely to be at the front of the queue once more.
Bournemouth are interested too, although it’s believed another promotion-chasing Championship outfit is currently leading the chase.
Slavisa Jokanovic is a big fan of Davies – and he’s not the only one at Bramall Lane who thinks the world of an old-school centre-half who blossomed into one of the Championship’s best during his time at Deepdale.
Left-footed and comfortable on the ball, Davies could finally fill a void created by the long-term absence of Jack O’Connell. One of Sheffield United’s star men will miss most of this season too having recently undergone surgery.
Interestingly, the Blades tried to sign Davies a year ago but were put off by Preston’s £10m asking price.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
