Michael Beale shuts down Rangers transfer 'confusion' as replacing Ben Davies was NEVER on the cards

Honest Michael Beale admits Rangers did want to sign a new centre-back before the transfer window closed - but it NEVER hinged on selling Ben Davies first.

Davies was frequently linked with an exit throughout the summer, the feeling being he hadn't quite delivered on his promise after joining from Liverpool but remained a sellable asset. His situation coupled with Rangers' interest in adding to their defensive ranks led to a belief Beale's plan was to cash in on Davies and sign a new centre-back to replace him.

But the Rangers boss says that wasn't the case and he had planned to sign a new left-sided centre-back in addition to what he currently has. Davies is the only left-footed player Beale has in his position and he wanted one more to balance things out. He said at his press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Aberdeen: "Ben built a relationship with Connor (Goldson) very quickly. Towards the end of the season he was injured, he came back to pre-season with another injury and there was a lot of noise in the air about us looking for another left-sided centre-half.

"I think people got a bit confused with thinking we wanted to replace Ben, we just wanted another left-sided centre-half. When he was injured in the first half of last season and at the end of the season I was having to play people on their wrong side and I wanted the left foot balance.

"My relationship with Ben has always been strong. We had some honest conversations about where he can improve but as he said himself it was never in the plan to sell and also you have to have an offer that you think is right. Every player at a club in Scotland if the offer is right, you're listening. But there was never an offer that got anywhere near it.

"Ben's just