The Scottish Sun reports that Serie A club Lazio will move for Ianis Hagi this summer if Rangers don’t take up their option to buy the playmaker.
The 21-year-old signed on loan from Genk on the final day of the January transfer window on an initial deal until the end of the 2019/20 season.
However, in the press release announcing his arrival, the Gers stated they had negotiated an exclusive option to buy the player once the loan expired [Rangers.co.uk].
Hagi struggled a little when deployed out wide in domestic competition, but starred in the Europa League. His finest game to date came in the dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Braga at Ibrox in February when he scored a brace.
The Romania international has been a hit with the fans but amid uncertainty around the transfer window, Gers sporting director, Ross Wilson, recently admitted that the club hadn’t yet made a decision regarding his future [Glasgow Times].
Now, the Scottish Sun reports that Lazio, who have been consistently linked with Hagi over a period of months, will swoop if the Gers decide against stumping up the £4 million needed to retain his services.
It’s said that the Serie A side are in the market for a natural no.10 and that although Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze is also on their radar, sporting director, Igli Tare, would prefer to bring in Hagi.
Verdict
It’s little surprise that a club like Lazio are interested in Hagi given his exploits for Rangers in European competition.
He’s not yet the finished article, but is remarkably two-footed, has excellent vision and the ability to score from range.
While he hasn’t quite cracked the Scottish Premiership as yet, there would likely be uproar amongst the fanbase if the Gers don’t tie the playmaker down.
Given his age and exciting potential, £4 million may prove to be a bargain in the long run and if Steven Gerrard is going to bring silverware to the club next season, he needs matchwinners in his ranks.
