Liverpool has sealed the deal for Preston defender Ben Davies, and it is the smartest move of the transfer market.
The official club website confirmed the move and the defender has been handed a ‘long-term deal’, although the length was unspecified.
Regardless of whether it works or not, this is the smartest move of the window. Davies was in the last six months of his contract and Liverpool have signed the 25-year-old for next to nothing.
"The former Preston man was delighted, and the club reported that he said: “It’s a huge opportunity. Obviously, it came as a bit of a surprise when it first came but once you start to get your head around it, the opportunity that is in front of me is incredible.“I’d be silly to not make the most of it and learn off the players [at the club].”"
Liverpool complete the deal for Ben Davies
Just by moving to Liverpool and learning under Jurgen Klopp, this value will rocket. If things don’t work out, there’s no reason to suspect that the Reds couldn’t sell Davies for anything less than £10 million. That’ll represent good business for anyone.
Another thing to consider is that Davies is homegrown, and signing the centre-back won’t require a re-jig of the registered squad. That’ll create more room for others, especially Ozan Kabak, who could join the man at Liverpool.
Davies is an experienced player who has worked his way from the ground up. He’s spent time in non-league, he’s played a lot of football, he’s eager to learn and this move represents a moment for the center-back that he’ll do his all to make a success of.
This move will also take the pressure off youngsters like Rhys Williams, who can now focus on learning the craft and training under Klopp without the backlash that comes with a dangerous section of supporters on Twitter.
It’ll be really interesting to see how Davies adjusts to Liverpool. Will he make his debut straight away, or will Klopp want to give him more of an adjustment period?
The Reds take on Brighton again on Wednesday, which may come too soon for the new arrival, while the Manchester City fixture might be too big a moment for Klopp to throw a Championship signing in.
Leicester and RB Leipzig then? Maybe not. But Sheffield United after that? Pencil it in.