Sky Sports: Secret clause emerges in Rangers contract as ace frozen out by Clement

Ianis Hagi’s contract contains a clause that will see his wage increase if he makes more starts for Rangers, according to Sky Sports.

The broadcaster reported via their website on 12 August that the attacking midfielder wants to stay at the club despite having been frozen out of the first-team set up by Philippe Clement but it is believed it will cost the club extra if he is used in the starting XI.

The Belgian has told the Romanian he can leave as he is not in the plans for the new season, leaving him with the B Team where he has impressed against Middlesbrough and Derby County, scoring a hat-trick against the latter on 10 August.

And the explanation may lie in the previously-unknown trigger to his Ibrox salary, with his last start over a year ago in May 2023.

Philippe Clement has no plans for Rangers ace in first-team

In isolation none of the decisions made around Hagi’s future in Glasgow over the past year are that strange, but added together they might now suggest he is being pushed out to avoid activating this clause.

If that is the case it must be a pretty significant jump in salary if Michael Beale and Clement have opted to avoid it rather than hope it pays off with performances on the pitch.

Hagi made two brief substitute appearances at the start of last term to take his total to 99 for the club before being shipped out on loan to Alaves in a decision which left the likes of Keith Jackson baffled at the time [Hotline Live, 6 August].

And now that Clement is struggling to get signings through the door while Hagi’s form for the B Team shines the choice to ignore him has been branded “mental” when he could improve the senior side [Mark McDougall, 10 August].

He has reportedly agreed personal terms with Fiorentina [SportpeSure, 21 July] and an exit worth more than £2million appeared to be on the cards [Digi Sport, 26 July].

If that move had been seen through and the funds turned into a new signing with some urgency it could be chalked up to nothing more a talented player losing his way at Ibrox after a serious injury and the new manager wanting his own people.

But if he keeps playing, and risking injury, for the B Team he might as well do so for the first-team since Oscar Cortes is out and Vaclav Cerny isn’t yet 100% fit.

But if the club can’t afford to allow that he might have no choice to accept the Fiorentina move and depart.

In other Rangers news, Clement has confirmed another exit-linked star also wants to remain at the club.

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