Arsenal

Arsenal + Liverpool Among Clubs Showing Interest In Highly-Rated Welsh Defender

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are all monitoring the progress off a highly-rated Welsh international defender. Find out who the player is here.

by
Transfer News Reporter
February 19, 2014

The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, interest mounts in Ben Davies.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are among the clubs showing a keen interest in Swansea City defender Ben Davies, according to the Daily Mail.

The 20-year-old has been with the Swans his entire footballing career and has risen through the youth ranks before breaking into the first team last season, making his debut against West Ham in August 2012.

He’s gone on to make over 70 appearances for the League Cup winners and it appears his impressive performances have caught the eye of some of the clubs in the upper echelons of the Premier League, while he hasn’t gone unnoticed on the continent either.

The Mail claim that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have been keeping a close eye on the left-back ahead of potential summer moves while La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are also surprise admirers of the Welsh internationals.

However, Davies only signed a new four-and-a-half year contract just before New Year and Swansea would be reluctant sellers, so the quartet would have to come up with a sizeable offer to persuade the club to cash in.

After signing his new deal in December, Davies expressed his delight at committing his future to the Liberty Stadium and said he’s at the right club to continue to play regularly and develop his game further.

‘It wasn’t a difficult decision and it’s always great to sign a new deal and commit my future to the club. This is a great place to learn and improve and it’s nice to be rewarded for all the effort I’ve put in.

‘I think it’s the right place to be at in terms of my career, and if I’m playing regularly and I’m happy then that’s the main thing and all I can ask for.’ Davies is quoted as saying by the Mail

From these comments, it seems that Davies may take some persuading to move this summer even if a bigger club offering Champions League comes calling. First team football is clearly important to the youngster and he’s unlikely to be guaranteed regular action at any of the clubs currently being linked.

Arsenal already have both Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal contending the left-back spot while Man City have Gael Clichy and Alexander Kolarov, so he’ll be hard pushed to oust any of those from four the first team.

Liverpool have been short at left-back this season with Jose Enrique hampered by a serious knee injury so perhaps Davies could have more luck at Anfield as long as Brendan Rodgers doesn’t decide to make Aly Cissokho’s loan move permanent.

Do you rate Ben Davies? Would he be a good signing for your club? Share your views below.