‘Stunned’ and ‘Wasn’t an Option’ – Rangers’ Stance on Birmingham City Duo as Transfers Loom

Rangers fans may not have seen much of Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies in recent months, but both players have been making a strong impression at Birmingham City.

As the summer transfer window approaches, speculation is growing over whether the Blues will move for permanent deals—but back at Ibrox, the feeling seems clear: neither player has a future at Rangers.

Kieran Dowell’s Rangers Spell: A Huge Disappointment

When Kieran Dowell arrived at Ibrox from Norwich City, he was expected to be a key creative force, much like his former Canaries teammate Todd Cantwell. Instead, his time at Rangers was underwhelming.

Injuries played a part, but even when given opportunities, he failed to impress. His performances were described as “meh”, and by the time he left for Birmingham in January, he had become a symbol of Rangers’ poor recruitment in recent years.

Adding to the frustration was his high wage, which made his lack of impact even more costly. With young prospects like Bailey Rice and Curtis Findlay pushing for first-team chances, Rangers saw no reason to keep Dowell.

What’s Next for Dowell?

With Rangers set for a summer rebuild, it’s highly unlikely that Dowell will return. A new permanent manager and a potential takeover by the San Francisco 49ers could shake things up, but Dowell isn’t expected to be part of the club’s plans.

“I’d be stunned to see Dowell return,” a source close to the club admitted.

Ben Davies: Not the Defender Rangers Expected

Ben Davies arrived at Ibrox with high expectations, having nearly joined Celtic before a last-minute swoop from Liverpool. Rangers fans hoped he would become a commanding presence in defense, but that never materialized.

Although he played a role in Rangers’ Champions League qualification under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, his performances in the group stage exposed his weaknesses. Rangers lost all six matches, and a 4-0 defeat to Celtic further highlighted his struggles.

While technically sound, Davies lacked the physicality and aggression needed to thrive at a club where winning every week is non-negotiable.

What’s Next for Davies?

Rangers were willing to offload Davies last summer to cut costs, and even when an injury crisis hit the squad in January, recalling him “wasn’t an option.” That suggests the club is confident Birmingham will push for a permanent deal, meaning his time at Ibrox is almost certainly over.

Birmingham’s Decision: Will They Make a Move?

Both Dowell and Davies have impressed at St. Andrew’s, though neither has reached Jay Stansfield levels of adoration from Blues fans. Still, with Birmingham focused on securing promotion, keeping experienced performers could be crucial.

With Rangers happy to part ways, it’s now up to Birmingham to strike a deal—and both players could be available at a cut price as Rangers look to restructure their squad.

In other news, ‘Open for business’ – Celtic told popular player could return, just like Jota and Kieran Tierney