Ianis Hagi Rangers exit on the cards after Michael Beale transfer admission
Ianis Hagi could be set for a Rangers exit after Michael Beale admitted his future may lie elsewhere beyond this summer.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on 21 August ahead of the Champions League playoff game against PSV, the Gers boss said a move could be something he looks into for the 24-year-old before the transfer window closes.
The Romanian expressed his unhappiness at his lack of game time prior to the League Cup victory over Morton on Saturday (19 August), with Beale admitting that he has held “honest chats” with the winger about his future.
“It may be between now and the end of the window that we look at that” said Beale, in quotes reported by Football Scotland. “I thought he did well when he came into the game at the weekend.
“Ianis spoke after three or four days of pre-season about how he had missed a year. I brought Ianis back into the team against Partick Thistle last year very early into his rehab and it was clear at that moment that he wasn’t ready. Over the summer, he’s worked really hard to be fit.
“I wouldn’t say he’s at optimal fitness right now, and the conversation with us has always been very honest. He’s a player that I have a strong relationship with on a personal level and his desire is he wants to be a main starter and play every single game. No one has got that guarantee here at Rangers. He’s competing with Todd Cantwell for that role and maybe Sam Lammers and one or two others. Tom Lawrence is returning as well.
“It’s more what does Ianis need to get back after being out for a year with an ACL. Those conversations and options are something Ianis and his agent have been looking at for the last year or so. So in the background, there’s been a lot going on.”
Heading one way
This situation only looks likely to be heading one way after Hagi publically displayed his frustrations about no longer being a regular starter and Beale is seemingly open to allowing him to leave Ibrox.
Although the Rangers boss maintains that the pair have a “strong relationship”, the recent comments by the Romanian suggest that could be breaking down.
It seems like it could be a difficult task for the winger to propel himself back into the manager’s thoughts for a starting spot due to his fitness issues and other players jumping ahead of him in the pecking order.
Since signing from Belgian side Genk in 2020 for £3million, the winger has scored 16 goals and laid on 21 assists in 98 appearances in a light blue shirt, but it feels as though he may not get the opportunity to add to that total.
He has shown that he can be a quality operator on his day – primarily during Steven Gerrard’s time in charge – but if he isn’t happy at being a bit-part player, then perhaps moving him on is the best option for everyone.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has taken aim at the Old Firm after an “embarrassing” development has emerged.