The Wales international has struggled for game time at Tottenham Hotspur and has apparently caught Manchester City’s eye.
On the face of it, there would be little surprise if Mauricio Pochettino decided to sanction Ben Davies’ departure from White Hart Lane. After all, the Welsh international has started just three Premier League games all season as the gap between him and Danny Rose continues to widen by the week.
A regular rotation player last season, Davies has now been largely reduced to cup competitions with his most recent 90-minute outing in the top flight coming all the way back in October.
This, coupled with a report by London Football News suggesting that Spurs were looking to offload the former Swansea City defender in the summer to make way for Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy, hardly bodes well for Davies’ long term prospects in Tottenham colours.
Therefore, an offer of £20 million is sure to test Pochettino’s resolve, with the Sun reporting that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was preparing a surprise swoop after being won over by Davies’ ability to flit between left-back and centre-half positions.
However, it is that same versatility that could yet hand Davies a lifeline under Pochettino.
The prospect of Jan Vertonghen being out for an extended period after suffering an injury in Saturday’s hitherto perfect afternoon against West Brom means Spurs are suddenly lacking options at the left centre-half position – a role Davies excelled in at Euro 2016.
Therefore, Pochettino’s adoption of a 3-4-2-1 system could allow Davies an opportunity to stake his claim in the side for the remainder of the season alongside, rather than instead of, Rose.
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