When reports emerged suggesting that Ianis Hagi could return to Italy with Genoa, the playmaker’s contract situation at Rangers was not the only reason why the rumoured transfer appeared to make sense.
Alongside Leon Balogun and Tom Lawrence, the Romania international is due to become a free-agent this summer.
And while nine clubs are reportedly tracking Lawrence including Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers, Ianis Hagi is likely to have plenty of options too.
Transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey told Rangers News last week that Hagi is currently Rangers’ highest earner. The feeling is that, unless an extension can be agreed on a lower wage, both parties will be parting ways in the coming months.
Now, while a move to Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce has been played down, interest from Serie A outfit Genoa should come as little surprise to those who have followed Hagi’s situation closely over the last ten months or so.
Ianis Hagi’s Genoa switch addressed as Rangers star sees contract run down
Romanian businessman Dan Sucu completed his takeover of the Grifone back in December.
By his own admission, Sucu was desperate to sign Hagi at Rapid Bucharest last summer. And with Genoa in the market for a new attacking midfielder, it made sense that the former Fiorentina prospect would see his name feature heavily in the gossip columns once again.
Yet, speaking to Sport Romania, Genoa board member and ex-Romania stalwart Razvan Rat insists that the reports suggesting Hagi is heading back to Italy are wide of the mark.
At least, at this stage anyway.
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Rat, who earned a century of caps for the Tricolorii between 2002 and 2016, says that the only Romanian currently on his way to Genoa is Hagi’s fellow playmaker Nicolae Stanciu.
“Louis Munteanu? No, there was never an idea about him. We didn’t enter into any discussion about him,” Rat tells Sport Romania. “I would also like to say about the others who were talked about in the press – I mean Ianis Hagi, [Dennis] Olaru – there was no discussion about these players.
“The only Romanian player with whom we negotiated is Nicolae Stanciu. That’s all.”
Dan Sucu switches focus to Nicolae Stanciu as Hagi left in limbo
Stanciu is not only a teammate of Hagi’s on the international stage, he also plays in a largely similar position. As for one of the other names reportedly in contention, the influential captain of FCSB, Rangers were linked with Dennis Olaru in 2024 before an injury ended his season prematurely.
“We entered into negotiations with [Stanciu] and the agent,” Rat adds, suggesting a man currently under contract in Saudi Arabia with Damac FC is now Sucu’s number one target.
“We have an agreement in principle. We still have details to work out in the coming weeks. I believe that Stanciu is a representative player for Romania and the national team. He is an appreciated player, who is the symbol of the national team.”
“If we were to start with someone or we wanted to bring someone to Genoa, we could only start with a player like Nicolae Stanciu.
“Dan Sucu really wanted Stanciu. He also wanted him in the past at Rapid.”
As for Hagi, the Rangers schemer refused to discuss a potential return to Istanbul ahead of that penalty shoot-out victory over Fenerbahce. The Turkish-born son of Galatasaray legend Gheorghe Hagi is unwilling to speak out about his future with the Europa League title still up for grabs.
