Ianis Hagi’s Rangers career appears to be over after Philippe Clement elected not to take up a January call-back clause in his loan deal at Alaves.

The Romanian playmaker has become a ‘superstar’ the longer he’s away, and many Rangers fans have pined for his return, but the lack of immediate recall in the January window suggests Clement isn’t as enthused by the attacker and there will be no midseason return for him.

Hagi made it clear he was happy in Spain and in fact ideally wanted to stay there, while previously slaughtering ex-manager Michael Beale and expressing entitlement that he should be playing at Rangers.

But Clement appears to agree with Beale, and isn’t set to bring Hagi back any time soon, despite the fact the playmaker position at Rangers is a bit threadbare at present.

Indeed, aside Todd Cantwell and arguably Kieran Dowell Rangers actually have no legitimate options for the 10 position, and that Hagi is technically primed for that slot suggests Clement isn’t taking up that opening at all.

As we said, Hagi rather burned his Rangers bridges earlier this season, not only demanding to play, but then dumping the club by telling the world he wanted to stay in Spain.

There’s also the small matter that his performances out there have been pretty mediocre, with utterly appalling stats in his time in LaLiga.

He hasn’t exactly impressed on his loan, 2 goals and an assist in 16 appearances, and just 6 starts.

LaLiga would be a very high level to test himself at, and not only is he not in favour there, but when he does get chances he isn’t taking them.

So Clement appears quite content to leave him out there, and potentially bring in a new body this window.

We’ll see how it goes.