Rangers have found top ‘quality’ Ryan Kent replacement as new deal agreed – pundit
Noel Whelan has hailed Michael Beale and Rangers for taking the pressure off injury returnee Ianis Hagi by giving him a fresh contract.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 23-year-old could save the Glasgow giants “a lot of money” as they try to replace contract rebel Ryan Kent.
Rangers confirmed on Thursday (15 December) that Hagi has signed a new “extended” contract at Ibrox – with the forward insisting he has a “lot of things to show” to the “amazing” Gers support.
The Athletic updated later that day to reveal the Romanian international has pledged his future until the summer of 2026 – a “show of faith” in the star after his long-term knee injury.
Hagi has been out of action since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Aberdeen on 18 January – almost 12 months ago.
He had notched a combined 36 goals and assists in 85 Rangers games after joining in 2020 and was soliciting links from the likes of Galatasaray prior to his injury.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “The manager knows him extremely well from their time together before.
“He knows the brilliant quality that Hagi possesses, and straight away he’s arrived at the club and put that trust in him.
“He will have needed that backing and support after a really long layoff.
“It’s always difficult when you’re coming back from a long-term injury, but Beale and the club have taken all of that worry about performances away by giving him this new deal.
“Rangers will save one hell of a lot of money if he can keep building on the sort of form he was showing before the injury, that’s for sure.
“They need an extra option in those wide areas, especially if Ryan Kent is leaving next summer.”
In other news, Football Insider updates with Premier League giants in Jack Wylie race as “big-money offer” tabled.