After shunning Ianis Hagi throughout the summer Phil Clement will be working his magic on yet another Number 10 over the coming months.
Gheorghe’s boy had a bonus clause in his contract that was reported to add £6,000 a week to his basic pay once he made his 100th appearance, last season he went on loan to Alaves with 99 appearances on his Ibrox CV.
Hagi Jnr has developed a career based on his surname with clubs in Italy, Belgium and Spain signing him up then quickly sidelining him as they realise that there is nothing of substance there other than transfer rumours from Romania liking him to big money moves.
Attempts to shift the 26-year-old on during the summer came to nothing with no club prepared to match the wages that he is picking up at Ibrox.
The lack of options and ability in midfield has been highlighted by the regular appearances made by Kieran Dowell, on Tuesday afternoon the media messengers were alerted to a u-turn as attempts are cranked up to sell Hagi when the January transfer window opens.
🚨 Rangers have confirmed Ianis Hagi has returned to the first-team squad ⤵️
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 1, 2024
On August 31, the day after the Transfer Window closed the Daily Mail reported Clement saying:
We spoke about that months ago. We were really open and honest with him (Hagi) and his agent that we don’t see him becoming the next No 10 for Rangers for the next couple of years, so to look out for other opportunities. That story stays the same and, for sure, with (Nedim) Bajrami now in the building, you have this situation.
🗣️’We don’t see him (Hagi) to become the next number 10 for Rangers’
Philippe Clement reveals conversation with Ianis Hagi where the club told the midfielder to look for other options. #Rangers #Deadlineday #Hagi pic.twitter.com/BvFrUwPwYF
— PLZ Soccer (@PLZSoccer) August 31, 2024
A fee of around £3m was reported to have been spent on Bajrami on Deadline Day in an attempt to add some creativity to Clement’s midfield options, since joining the Albanian internationalist has been used on the left wing with Tom Lawrence in the Number 10 role.
Hagi has been getting paid over £100,000 a month since his loan deal with Alaves came to an end, now his club have decided to compromise on his bonus payments in order to get a contribution with the hope of selling him in January.
The 25-year-old was left out of Clement’s squad for the Europa League but after keeping fit with the B team is in line for an emotional return to Ibrox on Sunday when St Johnstone are the visitors.
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