Philippe Clement has been clear that Rangers’ shoddy contract model must be a thing of the past if the club are to progress on and off the park.
The Rangers manager was left stunned this summer when five important first team players were left out of contract and the club had to replace them on a shoestring budget.
But whilst Philippe Clement has endorsed a more functional and responsible squad management policy, the hangover from recent shortcomings continues.
Ianis Hagi falls into that category with the Romanian playmaker out of contract at the end of the season. Similarly so does ex-Man United midfielder Tom Lawrence.
But it’s the 26-year-old from Istanbul who is making headlines with reports coming out of Romania suggesting Ianis Hagi has knocked back the offer of a new Rangers contract.
Ianis Hagi knocks back Rangers contract
The future of Ianis Hagi has already been the subject of some debate with the midfielder technically free to speak with other clubs.
Rangers eventually recalled Hagi after a protracted contract dispute in the summer, the Romanian joining the squad in October and since going on to have a sizeable impact.
Reports had suggested Hagi is open to a new contract with Rangers but given the financial complications of the midfielder’s previous deal, the terms remained unclear.
Now Pro Sport in Romania are claiming that Ianis Hagi is ‘expected to leave’ Rangers this summer after initial talks over a new contract ended in disappointment.
It’s claimed that Hagi’s financial demands are currently ‘far too high’ for what Rangers can afford to pay.
‘Several clubs’ interested in Ianis Hagi
Rangers then face the very real prospect of losing Ianis Hagi for nothing this summer after a challenging few years with regards the midfielder.
Signed for £3m from KRC Genk in the summer of 2020 after initially impressing on loan, Hagi was a key feature of the Rangers team up until an ACL injured sustained in January 2022.
That injury badly disrupted Hagi’s career and the midfielder spent last season on loan in Spain with Alaves before returning to Ibrox in the summer.
Pro Sport believe that there will be no shortage of suitors for Ianis Hagi this summer, with ‘several clubs’ reportedly interested in the midfielder’s services.
Amongst that number includes Turkish giants Galatasaray, for whom Hagi’s legendary father Gheorghe remains an iconic figure.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk admitted last month that the Turkish club remain interested in bringing Hagi back to Istanbul, the city of his birth.
”During a previous transfer window, we were interested in him,” said Buruk. “He is a very good player.
“Unfortunately, he was injured in the past. But now, he is OK. I know he’s playing well at Rangers now.
“I remember him when he was a child here at Galatasaray. He used to be everywhere. He was sitting and watching the training.
“In the last two years, I have always followed Ianis. Now he is in good shape.
“He is a good footballer, with potential. I repeat, we were interested in him during a transfer period, but he plays for another team just now.
“Who knows? Maybe one day he’ll play for Galatasaray.”
