Midway through his debut season at Ibrox, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard came to the conclusion that he needed a midfielder capable of controlling the tempo of the game, leading by example and give direction to an often directionless side.
Someone like former Gers favourite Steven Davis, for example. Well, how about Steven Davis? Who better than the man himself?
Two-and-a-half years on, it’s no exaggeration to suggest that Rangers bringing the Northern Ireland international back to the blue side of Glasgow is one of the most inspired decisions the club has made in their modern history. A decision that coincided with their rapid return to the top of the Scottish football tree.
Alongside Allan McGregor, Davis provided a bridge between the last great Rangers team and the new one. One of only two players who featured the Premiership title wins of 2011 and 2021.
It took Rangers a whole decade to find a player capable of emulating Davies’ vice-like grip on games. Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be hoping that it won’t take quite so long this time around.
Rangers want Billy Gilmour on loan from Chelsea?
Alongside Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and McGregor, Davies is one of a number of key first-team players due to depart when their contracts expire in July.
And while there is certainly a case for Davies to be handed a new deal – former Ibrox team-mate Barry Ferguson believes it’s a no-brainer – even he cannot defy Father Time forever.
Davies will be 38 on New Years’ Day. And while still a supreme technician, even the most ardent, paid-up members of the Steven Davies fanclub would have to admit that his influence is waning.
Those evergreen leaves have an unmistakable hint of brown around the edges.
There is a reason why Van Bronckhorst left him on the bench for every single one of Rangers’ knockout fixtures in the run up to the Europa League final, despite Davies arguably being the finest ball-player in the Dutchman’s squad.
So, enter Billy Gilmour. Or should that be ‘welcome back’?
According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are weighing up a deal that would see the 20-year-old Scotland international return to his roots, joining from Chelsea on what would probably be a season-long loan deal.
Replacing Davies would be no easy feat. There are few midfielders of his ilk who are both 1) affordable and 2) attainable. Gilmour, however, falls right into the heart of that particular Venn diagram.
“Rangers should get on the phone to Chelsea and at least ask the question,” former Scotland ace Kris Commons told the Daily Mail last year.
“I’m a big fan of Steven Davis and he’s been brilliant for Rangers. But I would have Gilmour ahead of him all day. That’s how good the boy is.
“He could transform the Ibrox midfield and offer a whole new dynamic as the deep-lying playmaker.”
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Gilmour, a deliciously talented, tactically astute and intelligent player, exploded onto the scene south of the border thanks to his snappy passing and accurate distribution in the number six role. Maturity beyond his years. Simply put, he is at his most effective when asked to perform a very similar role to the one Davies fills at Rangers. He’d bring something extra to the table too; A youthfulness, an energy that Davis cannot match.
They do you say you should ‘never go back’. But it didn’t do Davies much harm. Now, Gilmour could be next in line to disprove that tired old cliché.
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