Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Ben Davies' move from Preston North End can be a 'wonderful story'
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So opportunity knocked for Ben Davies when the Premier League title holders swooped for his services ahead of the deadline.
Davies became the first player for 54 years to move from PNE to Liverpool when the £1.6m deal was completed on Monday.
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Hide AdIn 1967 Dave Wilson had made the move, the Reds paying £20,000.
Four years earlier Peter Thompson made the Deepdale-to-Anfield move, going on to play 426 league games for Liverpool.
Those days are long gone, Liverpool’s recruitment now done within the Premier League or abroad.
Hence Davies’ move down the M58 caught the attention and hit the headlines.
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Hide AdReds manager Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: “What I like about Ben is it just shows that each situation creates opportunities.
“I think it’s probably clear that in a normal transfer window, without any issues, we would not look at Preston if there’s a player for us or something like that. It’s not really likely. But since we saw him and since our situation got clearer and clearer – the problems we had – when we saw him we got really excited about it and thought, ‘Wow’.
“He’s a boy who played his whole life for Preston, is around the corner pretty much. We see the potential really.”
Davies paid a last visit to PNE’s Euxton training ground yesterday to pick up his boots and say his farewells.
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Hide AdNow he begins the job of settling in at Liverpool and looking to break into Klopp’s team.
A lengthy list of injured defenders at Anfield could see Davies get his chance soon.
Klopp thinks this is a big opportunity for Davies and that he has been brave to take the challenge on.
Said Klopp: “We could have asked and he said, ‘I’d prefer to stay at Preston or go somewhere else where I play 40-odd games per season’.
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Hide Ad“So this is a challenge but it’s an opportunity – a big, big opportunity.
“It can be a wonderful story and it’s all about Ben and me to make sure this story will be really great.
“And we believe 100 per cent in development. I’m sure he wants to learn still, we are ready to teach still, to coach still.”
Davies has been given the No.28 shirt at Liverpool.
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