Ianis Hagi contract details emerge as Rangers refuse to play him to dodge wage increase
Ianis Hagi is set to be paid £6,000-a-week more if his triggers the wage rise that has been discovered in his Rangers contract, the Daily Record reports.
According to the outlet’s website on 13 August the Romanian attacker’s latest extension contains a clause that would see his pay increase if he reaches a certain number of appearances.
That deal was signed in December 2022 with Michael Beale in charge and would see the club spend around £600,000 extra if he triggered the higher wages over the final two years it has left to run.
Sky Sports reported the existence of a clause on 12 August, with the 25-year-old said to be keen to stay but told he can leave by Philippe Clement.
Hagi’s last appearance came a year ago next week before he was sent to Alaves on loan, when he said: “I’m obviously disappointed by the situation but I respect the gaffer’s [Beale] decisions. That doesn’t mean I agree with them but I respect them – he’s the manager of this club. I’m a simple guy, I just love football.”
Philippe Clement freezes out Rangers ace on 99 appearances
It appears highly likely that the trigger comes after Hagi makes 100 appearances for Rangers since he has been left on 99 since a brief outing off the bench against Morton on 19 August last year.
He was packed off on loan after that, apparently against his will, and now Clement has left him turning out for the B Team rather than make use of him in a half-finished senior side.
Quite why the club agreed to such terms when he was still yet to return from a year out injured two seasons ago if they are now so desperate to avoid them is unclear.
Beale said at the time Hagi would be a “big asset” once he returned but he has only made 13 appearances since then and apparently isn’t about to make any more.
High-earner Connor Goldson has been shifted from the wage bill this summer and Clement looks like he could use the help which £6,000-a-week could buy.
But if that isn’t going to happen then a move to Fiorentina [Digi Sport, 26 July] needs to be pushed through as soon as possible to end speculation and secure a financial return.
The Euro 2024 participant starring for the B Team is no use financially or on the pitch for Clement so a decision needs to be made on an exit or a return to the senior fold.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have already discussed personal terms as they look to sign a young “prodigy” of a striker.
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