Rangers legend Ally McCoist believes Ianis Hagi might have already left Ibrox if he had ‘half a yard’ more pace in his locker.
That is, perhaps, the only area of the Romanian’s game where he can be considered ever-so-slightly lacking.
Ianis Hagi is clever, intuitive, tactically flexible and – when on song – capable of carving most defences apart like a ripe Christmas turkey, his surgical passing and long-range shooting enough to keep Premiership goalkeepers up at night.
Presuming he stays at Ibrox, the 2023/24 campaign should be a big one for Hagi too. After playing only 45 minutes of Scottish Premiership football under Rangers boss Mick Beale due to a long-standing knee problem, the former Genk starlet will return to pre-season training with a point to prove and a snarling determination to make up for lost time.
But while some at Ibrox may bemoan Hagi’s lack of pace, McCoist points out that Rangers may have been unable to hang onto Turkish-born 24-year-old if he had the nitrous-powered acceleration of, say, a Fashion Sakala.
Ianis Hagi faces a big season at Rangers
“I think Hagi is half a yard short of being absolutely top class,” McCoist tells talkSPORT (15 June, 9.30am).
“I think, if he was half a yard quicker, he wouldn’t be with us.”
Rangers paid £3 million to sign Hagi permanently in the summer of 2020. Back in 2020/21 – his last full season free of injury – the son of Romania legend Gheorghe Hagi mustered a staggering 23 goal contributions from his attacking midfield role. Eight goals, and 15 assists.
Form which caught the eye of an Aston Villa side under the stewardship of one Steven Gerrard. Until his knee went ‘pop’ that is.
“He had a verbal agreement with Aston Villa,” a source tells Romanian publication ProSport. “If that bad luck had not occurred, he would now be playing in the Premier League, in England.”
Hagi was linked with a move to Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach earlier in the summer. Those reports have grown cold now, though Hagi faces renewed competition for a first-team spot at Rangers with Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence, Kieran Dowell and the stylish Sam Lammers all providing competition for the number ten role.
