Rangers attacking midfielder Ianis Hagi has held “background” discussions over a summer transfer out of Ibrox.
That’s according to Michael Beale, who has suggested that the Romanian international playmaker, 24, could leave the club in this window.
Rangers have dropped Ianis Hagi from the club’s UEFA Champions League Playoff squad for the double-header against PSV Eindhoven.
This comes after Ianis Hagi publicly vented his frustrations over a lack of gametime in Glasgow since returning from a devastating ACL injury.
Coming off the bench in the weekend’s 2-1 League Cup win over Greenock Morton, Michael Beale has explained that as things stand, a substitute role is not enough to pacify the former Genk star.
“No issue with Ianis,” Michael Beale said ahead of the Champions League Playoff clash with PSV Eindhoven.
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“I think Ianis, as he put in his own words, is very happy when he’s playing football and he’s missed football for a year.
“He wants to play as a starter week in, week out, so it may be that between now and the end of the window we look at that.
“I thought he did well when he came in at the weekend.”
Ianis Hagi in “background” discussions over Rangers transfer
Pressed on the situation further, Michael Beale appeared to refute the suggestion from Ianis Hagi that he is the fittest he has ever been.
The Rangers midfielder made the claim following the victory over Morton but Michael Beale suggested there are currently others in front of the Romanian in the Ibrox pecking order.
In doing so, the Rangers boss also claimed that Ianis Hagi is assessing his transfer options as the window enters its final phase.
Explaining that the player and his agent are potentially trying to source Ianis Hagi a new club, we suspect the ex-Fiorentina midfielder’s time at Ibrox is coming to an end.
“Me and Ianis spoke after three or four days of pre-season,” explained Beale.
“He’s missed a year. I brought Ianis back into the team against Partick Thistle very early into his rehab and it was clear at that moment he wasn’t ready.
“Over the summer he’s worked really hard to be fit; I wouldn’t say he’s at optimal fitness right now.
“The conversation with us has always been very honest, he’s a player I have a strong relationship with on a personal level.
“His desire is he wants to be a main starter and play every single game and no-one’s got that guarantee at Rangers.
“He’s competing with Todd Cantwell for that role and maybe Sam Lammers and one or two others. Tom Lawrence is now returning.
“It’s more ‘what does Ianis need to get back?’ after being out for a year with an ACL.
“Those conversations and options Ianis and his agent have been looking at for the last week or so, so in the background there’s been a lot going on.”
Rangers initially signed Ianis Hagi on loan from Genk in the January of 2020 before making a £3m transfer permanent the following summer.
The son of legendary Romanian footballer Gheorghe Hagi, Ianis Hagi is one of four first-teamers for whom exit talk surrounds in Glasgow.
Whilst it remains to be seen where Ianis Hagi might end up, the strongest transfer interest appears to be coming from Italy.