Rangers had a busy summer transfer window as Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen began stage one of a root to branch rebuild.
The squad still has a lot of work that needs to be done to it but there is one player who the manager knows is integral to his chances of success.
With six months left of his Rangers contract, tying Ianis Hagi down to a new deal is as important as any new signing with the Romanian finally fulfilling his obvious potential.
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Ianis Hagi has earned his place as key Rangers player
The 26-year old, alongside Hamza Igamane, has arguably been the Ibrox outfit’s signing of the season.
Persuading Hagi to resolve a contract issue so that he could get back playing again has seen Clement gain a playmaker who would have made a difference were he available from the start of the season.
With eight goal contributions in just over 1000 minutes, the 44-times capped international has been at the heart of a lot of Rangers good attacking play that has seen 18 goals in the last six league games.
In the games that Hagi has started, only twice have points been dropped, the 2-1 defeat to St Mirren away from home and the ludicrous 3-3 draw with Hibs.
If Rangers are to have a smaller, leaner squad, those that can be trusted to set an example should be rewarded accordingly.
Replacing a player like Hagi, as the signing of Nedim Bajrami has shown, isn’t going to be easy.
Is Hagi heading back to Italy?
According to Giovanni Becali, the FCSB owner who has long claimed to be involved in Hagi’s affairs, despite the player issuing a statement to the contrary, Serie A could be his next destination for a hefty transfer fee:
“I believe in the Ianis Hagi option at Genoa. I think Genoa wants him. I don’t know what Rangers will ask for. The roles have been reversed. Rangers will ask for a lot, the amount is around 7 million euros.
“Ianis Hagi knows Italian football. He speaks Italian well, he knows Italian football. I believe in this possibility. It would be a coup, provided he doesn’t risk falling further down (no – Genoa doesn’t have emotions about relegation). Let him stay where they are now.”
Becali obviously isn’t in the know, because Rangers will be losing Hagi for nothing if a new contract can’t be agreed.
Which would make him the latest in a long line of valuable players who should have made the club millions.
