Ibrox View: Clement must be ruthless with exit-linked Rangers ace despite new update

Rangers star Ianis Hagi is keen to stay at the club and rebuild his Gers career but Philippe Clement must be ruthless if he can be integrated back into the squad.

Hamish McRae’s report in the Scottish Sun [12 August] outlines that the Romania international – who starred at Euro 2024 until the quarter-final stage – would be open to reigniting his story at the club despite being banished to the B team.

Philippe Clement does not see the 25-year-old – or wantaway ace Todd Cantwell – as part of his plans going forward, but Hagi has kept himself on people’s minds with a hat-trick in a 5-3 win over Derby County for the reserve outfit last week.

Clement earlier this summer admitted the club must sell before splashing the cash, with Hagi and Cantwell aimed to be those used as leverage – making the attacking midfielder’s wish unlikely to be fulfilled.

Could Hagi see a way back at Rangers?

For a potential multitude of reasons on both sides, Hagi has been seen as a misfit at Ibrox for a while, having been shipped out on loan from Rangers last season.

His 22-game spell at Alaves in Spain – which did not yield a single goal – of course did him little favours upon his return, but the clear ability of Hagi demonstrates that he would be able to regularly produce in a top team.

The Romanian progressed further than any other of Clement’s squad who featured at the summer Euros, but there are other stumbling blocks besides his talent to signify his future in Glasgow.

A key aspect is that as Sky Sports reported on Monday [12 August], Hagi has a clause in his contract which increases his salary based on inclusion in the first team, seemingly an activation Clement and the club are doing their best to avoid.

Not only that, but Hagi has two years remaining on this current deal and it is thought this summer – or January at the latest – would be the last chance to recoup a significant fee on the midfielder.

For the man himself, it might just be better to tell Clement to suit himself and hunt a fresh start elsewhere – and whether that comes back to bite the club will be gauged very quickly by the reactions of plenty of supporters who want to see him back in the fold.

But it is well known that Clement still needs to make additions to his squad this summer. To do so he has to be ruthless with the likes of Hagi. Having him off the books should help this plans, the boss simply has to stick to his guns on this one.

In other Rangers news, a Gers Women player reacts after a four-goal haul on her debut.

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