The new guys

Lawrence and Matondo hit the ground running in win over West Ham. Klopp salutes ‘smart’ Van Bronckhorst after Davies move

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp last night hailed his Rangers counterpart Giovanni van Bronckhorst following his “smart” signing of English centre-half Ben Davies.

The Ibrox club announced that Davies had completed his £4 million transfer from Anfield and put pen to paper on a four-year deal before kickoff in their pre-season friendly against West Ham in Govan.

The 26-year-old failed to make a single first-team appearance for the

Champions League finalists after joining them in February last year from Preston North End in a £500,000 deal.

However, German coach Klopp remains an admirer of the versatile defender, who can also play at leftback, and feels he will do well in Scotland in the 2022/23 campaign and beyond.

“It’s a smart piece of recruitment from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, to be honest,” he said. “Perfect for all parties. He has himself an accomplished defender, who is entering his peak years and whose character is top drawer.

“Rangers is a fantastic club, a big club. Ben belongs on a big stage for sure. European football as well. This presents a proper opportunity to demonstrate his quality and composure. As a person he’s as good a guy as you could hope to meet.”

Davies, who was paraded on the field before the West Ham game got underway along with Bayern Munich loanee Malik Tillman, spent last season on loan at Sheffield United.

The player, who was once a target for Celtic, told the official Rangers website that he was pleased to complete his switch to Glasgow.

“I am very excited to join Rangers and I am really looking forward to taking this next step in my career,” he said. “It’s a huge club with big ambitions and I can’t wait to get started.”

Davies is the sixth signing that Europa League finalists Rangers have made this summer; Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo, John Souttar and Tillman had arrived before him.

Van Bronckhorst said: “I am delighted he has joined the club. He is a strong defender with great qualities and will further add to our options in that area.”