Chris Jack moots January transfer for Ianis Hagi after latest Rangers developments
Ianis Hagi faces “defining” weeks which will decide if he stays at Rangers beyond January or not, according to Chris Jack.
Speaking on The Rangers Review (20 November), Jack said that after Romania manager Mircea Lucescu told Hagi to leave the Gers, a lack of minutes for the playmaker at Ibrox could well see that come to pass.
Hagi has made just two appearances for the first team this season after being brought back into the fold by Philippe Clement, but his form on the international stage has raised plenty of attention.
Jack said: “If we don’t see more of him over the next two or three weeks, the Romanian manager may well get his wish come the January window – it feels like a really defining couple of weeks for Ianis Hagi.
“You look at this run of fixtures coming up – if he can’t start some of them, if he can’t get at least half an hour in some of them, then I think we can say the writing’s on the wall in terms of his Rangers career.”
Rangers have to give Ianis Hagi a chance to fight for his future
Given his international exploits when away from Auchenhowie with Romania, it beggars belief that Clement is so hesitant to utilise Hagi more often in a Gers side sorely lacking in the final third.
Hagi being sent off upon his return to first-team action certainly won’t have helped the 26-year-old’s cause in this regard, but while his ban expired some time ago, he’s only played in one game since.
Clement’s preference to play Tom Lawrence in the number 10 role – until his injury – has even seen him push big-money signing Nedim Bajrami to the wing, clearly showing that the Belgian has his favourites.
Regardless of Clement’s comments in the wake of Hagi’s contract stand-off, it’s obvious that the Romanian is yet to convince the Gers boss that he’s worthy of increased minutes.
However, with his side lacking creativity, execution, and most importantly results in attacking areas, it’s clear that with the Scottish League Cup Final approaching, Clement must tap into Hagi’s revitalised form if both player and manager’s Ibrox careers are to be saved.
In other Rangers news, the club making an internal boardroom appointment showcases a clear lack of ambition at Ibrox.
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