Rivaldo tips Ianis Hagi for Liverpool move if Steven Gerrard leaves Rangers
Former World Player of the Year winner Rivaldo has backed Steven Gerrard to eventually leave for Liverpool and bring a current Rangers star with him.
Gerrard’s links to Liverpool refuse to subside amid a troubled spell for Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside and the Brazilian World Cup winner has added his voice to the conversation.
But it might be a surprise to see the player he is tipping Gerrard to take with him.
In quotes relayed by Romanian journalist Emanuel Roşu on his personal Twitter profile, Rivaldo said: “I am sure Gerrard will go to Liverpool one day and maybe Ianis Hagi could make the step with him and follow him to Anfield.”
Hagi joined the Light Blues on loan from Belgian side Genk in January 2020 before making the move permanent later that year.
Work to do for Hagi
We won’t be surprised to see Gerrard rekindle his love affair with Liverpool eventually but that is still a far way off.
But it would be a bit of a shock to see Hagi make the move to Merseyside, at least in the near future.
The 22-year-old made an instant impact on his Ibrox arrival midway through last season with a Europa League double against Braga in a 3-2 comeback win the highlight of a campaign that was brought to an abrupt end after the covid-19 outbreak.
However he took some time to hit his stride this season and was often floundering on the bench until he stepped up in December and began to stake his claim for a regular first-team starting spot.
Hagi is now regularly found on the right-hand side of the Rangers attack, particularly with Kemar Roofe’s recent absences, and he has proved to be an inspired signing at times.
But we would question whether he has shown enough to be able to say he can make the grade at Liverpool.
Given his youthful years time is certainly on his side and nothing should be ruled out given his prodigious talents.
But we do not think there is any need to be worried at this stage – Hagi has plenty more to prove here.
In other Rangers news, Celtic release Old Firm statement amid fixture fears.