Rangers probably don’t need Ianis Hagi anymore

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Rangers probably don’t need Ianis Hagi anymore
Rangers' Romanian midfielder Ianis Hagi warms up ahead of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, 2nd leg football match between Rangers and Royal Antwerp at the Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on February 25, 2021. (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RUSSELL CHEYNE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

We’ve discussed Romania’s Ianis Hagi a bit today, with the Rangers attacker said to be interesting a host of clubs now including Sevilla, Aberdeen (who denied it), Espanyol, Galatasaray and Lecce meaning there absolutely is attention on the ex-Genk star.

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Ibrox Noise has been monitoring fan response to the speculation and very few supporters seem that bothered about the playmaker moving on, and in truth, it’s not that surprising.

Signed on loan in January 2020, Hagi has only actually played 96 times (70 starts) for Rangers and of a possible three and a half seasons at a cost of £3M it’s barely any better than Kemar Roofe or Filip Helander.

In short, Rangers haven’t had value from Hagi, including his stats – 16 goals, 21 assists – it’s absolutely not remarkable in 100 or so Rangers appearances in his position. It is, in fact, exactly the same as the underwhelming numbers Ryan Kent used to post which drew such criticism from fans, and Hagi’s best season? 15 assists and 8 goals in 45 – similar stats to the under-fire Kent.

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And yes, that was 55 where the whole team was on fire, so it’s hard to take that seriously.

The point is Hagi hasn’t come close to that form since then and has naturally missed a lot of matches through injury as well.

Indeed, even before his injury, in his 15 Premiership appearances the following season after 55, he managed two goals and an assist, hardly vintage form. His overall numbers that season? 4 goals 4 assists in 27. Far from impressive.

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Hagi is one who needs a new challenge, it was a big mistake to give him a two-year ‘extension’ in December while he was still miles away from being fit (another genius move from Ross Wilson), and the problem is the price from the extra two years (he was due to expire next year) may put some suitors off.

If Hagi was fit and firing then it would have been a shrewd move, banking Rangers £8M-£10M for his signature, but those days are long gone and it just makes things tougher now.

But we’ll see what offers do come in, if any.

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