There’s a good chance that it will take some time to figure out if Ben Davies is cut out for the top level, but it’s easy to think that Celtic made a mistake by not getting a deal sorted out.
He’s left footed so that immediately brings balance to the back line, he’s strong in the air, good on the ball and quick enough to deal with most attacking threats.
When you also consider that he would’ve been free then it does look like a no-brainer, but something went wrong and it allowed Liverpool to step in and get something done.
That might be a strange move for Davies as he’s likely to become the 5th choice defender at best once all of Liverpool’s injury issues clear up, so it won’t really be a surprise if he’s linked with a loan move in the summer.
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Celtic’s inability to sign him up will be frustrating if he goes on to prove himself in the Premier League, and a report from the Mirror has indicated that they’ve shot themselves in the foot over this one.
It essentially sounds like the deal was sorted out and the defender was ready to sign, but then Celtic inserted a clause that meant it would only be valid if he was fit and ready to play once the contract started.
In a way that does make sense for the club as it would be a nightmare if he picked up a nasty injury before joining, but you’re also asking a player to take himself out of the market and commit himself to you so a possible injury is a risk you have to take.
From Davies’ point of view he would be in an awful position if he picks up an injury – He would’ve done Preston over by leaving on a free so they aren’t going to give a new deal to an injured player, and nobody else is going to touch him either.
That clause demand meant that Davies wanted some extra time to think about things and that’s when Liverpool stepped in, so it has come back to bite Celtic with this deal.
Of course it does look like smart business if something happens to him and the can get out of the deal in that scenario, but it simply looks like a bad piece of negotiating when you consider what’s happened.
