Rangers attacker loses eye-catching squad number to new signing after exit terms agreed - reports

Ianis Hagi looks to have lost his Rangers squad number to Oscar Cortes as the Romanian nears a move away, according to the Scottish Sun.

The paper reported via their website on 22 July that the Colombian has been wearing the Light Blues number seven shirt during preseason after he was re-signed on a loan-to-buy deal this summer.

Rangers haven’t confirmed number changes for the new season but Cortes’ “caught the eye more than most”.

Hagi previously had that number but is believed to be close an Ibrox exit after having agreed personal terms on a move that would take him back to former club Fiorentina [SportpeSure, 21 July].

Oscar Cortes takes Rangers number 7 shirt from Ianis Hagi

This summer was always supposed to complete the changing of the guard which proved to have not gone far enough a year ago so Cortes taking Hagi’s shirt fits in with that perfectly, just as Mohamed Diomande now wearing Steven Davis’ old number 10 does.

The Lens-loanee will become a permanent addition when the obligation in his deal is activated at the end of the new season after he impressed enough last term for the club to bring him back.

He only made seven appearances after coming in to replace the injured Abdallah Sima before he was also ruled out for the rest of the season with the latest in a debilitating number of fitness issues at Ibrox.

Philippe Clement has made changes behind the scenes to address the shocking level of unavailability at the club in recent years, with Hagi another to have been hit after missing more than a year with a serious knee problem.

The winger spent last season on loan at Alaves and expressed a willingness to stay in La Liga [MARCA, 21 March] but if a deal can be worked out to send him to Serie A it appears best for all parties.

Clement and Nils Koppen have done half the job of bringing in the next generation with the likes of Cortes, Diomande and Connor Barron.

But established contributors are still needed so selling on players with no real future at Ibrox is paramount as soon as possible.

In other Rangers news, Clement could leave the club amid rumours linking him to a new job and clashes with the “most talented” attacker he has at Ibrox.

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