Confirmed: Clement issues Hagi update after agents reportedly refuse Rangers exit

Philippe Clement has confirmed Ianis Hagi’s situation at Rangers is still the same in his latest comments to the media.

The Gers boss insisted nothing had changed with the Romanian attacker while speaking in his prematch press conference (13 September) ahead of the trip to face Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.

He has remained consistent in his stance that Hagi will not play again for the Light Blues and can leave the club, after being left in the B Team amid reports of a contract clause that would trigger financial obligations [Daily Record, 13 August].

The 25-year-old’s agents told Digi Sport in Romania on 12 September that he would categorically not be leaving Ibrox and would continue to fight for a return to the fold, dismissing the prospect of a contract termination.

But Clement said (16m 30s): “I said these things already the last times, the situation didn’t change. It’s not only my decision in that way. So we will see what the future will bring there.”

Rangers stalemate continues at Ibrox after Alaves return

It looks like Hagi is going to have to continue putting in performances with the reserves with no sign in sight of either side breaking.

If the 41-cap international is insistent on staying, having already rejected one exit to Rapid Bucharest before the transfer window shut [Sky Sports, 26 August], and Clement can’t or won’t use him then it is difficult to see a way out.

A contract termination would have been far from ideal but would have given the 25-year-old and his agents the freedom to seek a move anywhere, yet they have ruled that out as well.

Hagi may not be the answer to all the issues at Ibrox but if it weren’t for the contract clause he would surely have at least been tested by Clement when the likes of Tom Lawrence, Scott Wright and Ross McCausland have all had various appearances so far this term.

The manager had firmly suggested it is he who has no interest in reintegrating Hagi into the first team previously [Daily Mail, 31 August], but even he sounds weary of facing questions on the subject if the decision isn’t entirely in his hands.

It is no surprise that they keep coming though when an accomplished player who made it to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 a matter of months ago is not even under consideration.

It would be one thing if he had been frozen out of a squad like Manchester City’s, but Clement was restricted in the transfer window and has arguably seen his options get worse since last term [Michael Stewart, 2 September] and needs all the help he can get.

Nedim Bajrami’s arrival may help render Hagi’s absence a moot point, but even if the Albanian immediately sets the world alight it won’t detract from a baffling stand-off at Ibrox.

In other Rangers news, Ibrox sources have reacted to claims another ace could leave to Turkey imminently instead of James Tavernier.

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