CELTIC GAFFER ‘HAD DAVIS IN HIS SIGHTS’
‘Underrated’ new Blue was target for Celtic gaffer
BRENDAN Rodgers last night praised “underrated” Steven Davis and revealed he once tried to buy his fellow countryman when he was a Rangers player.
The two Northern Irishman find themselves on opposite sides of the Old Firm divide when they so nearly came to be working with one another. Rodgers was Swansea City manager when Rangers moved into administration, before liquidation, and he tried to persuade his countryman
on a move to Wales before he joined Southampton.
“I wanted to sign Steven when he was at Rangers when we got promoted to the Premier League with Swansea.
“At that time, Rangers were in a difficult moment and he was their captain and I’d seen him since he was a young player at 13/14 years of age. I always recognised his qualities and he’ll be very good for Rangers, I’m sure.
“It was a difficult situation for him at the time at Rangers. He was the captain there and it probably wasn’t the right time for him to come away. But I’ve always admired him, from when he was a young player at Aston Villa, his qualities. For me he’s a very, very underrated footballer.
“He’s a Callum McGregor type. He keeps the game simple, passes, moves, can orchestrate the game. I’ve always liked Steven so he will be a very good signing for them.”