Steven’s not a gold digger..he wants to lift silver
Davis’s Ibrox return is motivated by pursuit of prizes rather than last big pay day says ex-Gers pal Adam
A LONG and successful career has ensured Steven Davis won’t be worrying about the post-festive season supermarket checkout walk of shame when the bank card gets rejected.
Even so the Northern Ireland midfielder could be forgiven for packing his bags for one last big pay day given he’s in the twilight of his playing days and won’t be short of clubs offering a pot of dosh for one final push.
Yet it’s his old club in the box seat for his services and Charlie Adam is convinced the playmaker has been sold on the Rangers project rather than the promise of a few more pounds.
The 34-year-old former Ibrox star is expected to check in for a second spell in Govan on a fraction of the cash he is on at Southampton and could pocket elsewhere in England.
Stoke schemer Adam, a team-mate of Davis for a year at Ibrox, is adamant the veteran will be persuaded by something more priceless than a pension plan and he would know – because he feels exactly the same way.
He said: “It’s not about the money. He’s obviously been told about the project at Rangers.
He’ll also have seen from the outside and wants to be part of it.
“They are within touching distance of being successful and he’ll feel his quality can add to that and help take them to the next step.
“He’s obviously had a chat with the manager and club and been happy with that. Rangers is a big pull for any player.
“To get someone like that back would be a great piece of business and hopefully he can add one or two more.” Former Rangers ace Adam reckons Davis will find it hard to resist the lure of an Ibrox return but it wouldn’t be a sentimental move by the club. The Saints star is still a major talent and would be a huge boost in a squad light on tried and trusted campaigners. Adam said: “It absolutely makes sense to me. He’s still a top player. He knows the club and has the experience. “That’s something you are always looking for and he can play in that No.10 position, linking the play between Alfredo Morelos and midfield. “You need to get him on the ball to be effective but for Rangers it’s a sensible deal. He’s played for Northern Ireland but he’s not played a lot for Southampton this last six months or under the new manager. “He’ll be wanting to be out playing and showing everybody Steven Davis is still a good player. I have no doubt he is. “Rangers don’t have too many experienced players. There’s Allan McGregor and maybe Ryan Jack but after that the rest are a young group. To have that kind of leader going in there will be great business for the club.”
Adam still keeps tabs on his old club and he’s thrilled to see Gers back in business under his old Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard. He insisted last week’s Old Firm win has ended the Parkhead club’s derby hoodoo – and blown the title race wide open.
Adam – who starred at Anfield under Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers – said: “Gerrard is only a couple of results away from it being perfect. It’s been a great learning curve this last six months.
“Overall he’ll be delighted. They are in the hunt and there’s an opportunity for them to win the league.
“That result the other day was incredible. Rangers were magnificent.
“Celtic had an off day but that was down to how Rangers played. It’s a barrier that’s been broken.
“You want to stop the rot and it was important after Brendan won 10 out of 12. They were excellent and it was the perfect way to finish the year.
“Celtic still have a game in hand but it’s open. You never know where it can take you.”
Adam has been fascinated by the battle in Glasgow between his old gaffer and former Kop clubmate.
He said: “It’s one apiece at the moment so they will be quite happy about that. What I took from the first
game was that Stevie learned a lot. That’s probably the first time in a long time Rangers have been able to get in and about Celtic and what they did was incredible.
“They made Celtic have an off day and you will see that is how Rangers play to the end of the season, being on the front foot, forcing teams into mistakes and trying to win games that way. It was a big win for Rangers but also a big win for the league.”
Adam is open to a return to Scotland with Gers, Hearts and just about everyone else in the frame. And he admits Scottish football is box office.
He said: “It’s been incredible and I’ve really enjoyed it from the outside.
“There’s more interest for everybody with Gerrard coming in. But it’s not just Rangers and Celtic, you look at the level of Kilmarnock, they’ve been incredible. I saw a stat the other day saying they have collected more points than the Old Firm in 2018.
“When you look at the budgets, Steve Clarke’s done a remarkable job there. Aberdeen are pushing, Hibs have struggled of late but them and Hearts have been up there.
“It’s an open title race now. Three or four teams can win it. Realistically, can they win it? Probably not.
“But it’s nice to see it’s not just Celtic, who have dominated in the last seven years.”
● Adam was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup and Scottish football.
It’s not about the money, he wants to be part of the Rangers project CHARLIE ADAM ON GERS’ SELLING POINT TO DAVIS