'It's crazy' - Keown reacts as transfer talk emerges on big-name Rangers player

Rangers have made a “crazy” decision by banishing Ianis Hagi to the B team, says Gary Keown.

In his column for the Daily Mail [10 August], Keown says whilst, understandably, Hagi’s face may not fit in Philippe Clement’s project, the idea that the Gers boss is actively diminishing the Romanian’s market value by dropping him into the reserve setup is baffling.

Keown was discussing the concept of both Hagi and Todd Cantwell as sellable assets to reinvest into the squad, with plenty of talent needed to bolster the team based on the early showings of the new season.

Hagi is expected to depart very soon, with talk over a deal to join Fiorentina mooted as a possible loan-to-buy to accelerate an exit [Gary Morris, 9 August].

“It’s crazy. Clement is adamant he only wants people committed to his project in the first-team squad,” Keown reasoned.

“There’s talk of interest from Fiorentina and others and the prospect of a move being imminent, but wouldn’t there have been some benefit in bringing Hagi back into the fold until that actually happens?”

Ianis Hagi transfer close after crazy Rangers decision

For whatever reason or bulk of reasons, and whoever’s fault it might be, Hagi is the definition of a misfit in Clement’s squad.

A supremely talented player who progressed the furthest of any Rangers man to represent their nation at Euro 2024, the 25-year-old has plenty to offer a club that suits him, although judging by his loan at Alaves last campaign that could be easier said than done.

Whilst there is sympathy for the mountainous task facing Clement, Keown’s statement is entirely correct about lumbering Hagi with the B team – in which he recently scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory against Derby.

The Romania international has just two years left on his current deal, and certainly won’t be penning a new one anytime soon. The club must squeeze every penny they can from a sale between now and the end of the month, and recycle that into strengthening key areas.

Keown points out the situations with Hagi and Cantwell are entirely different – but what the duo do have in common is that on their day and in the right environment, there are excellent players in there.

But they cannot longer be Rangers’ problem. It’s a two-way street – get them back in the side, or sell for a bargain.

In other Rangers news, Vaclav Cerny wowed a Sky Sports reporter with this moment against Motherwell.

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