Rangers tipped to accept Ianis Hagi pre-January
Rangers boss Philippe Clement can still ‘get the best out of’ Ianis Hagi after bringing the midfielder back into the fold at the club.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track Podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes ‘common sense has prevailed’ and that the 25-year-old can still be a huge asset for Rangers, even if he didn’t expect to be there beyond the summer transfer window.
The Romania international is back with the first team after being forced to train with the reserves while the club tried to ship him out for much-needed funds.
Hagi made his explosive return in Rangers’ 2-0 win over St Johnstone, assisting Vaclav Cerny for his second goal before getting sent off for a rash, studs-up challenge on Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka.
Rangers can still make use of Ianis Hagi
His substitute appearance against St Johnstone was his first game for the Glasgow club in 14 months having spent all of last season on loan with Spanish side Deportivo Alaves.
It didn’t quite work out in Spain for Hagi, scoring just two goals in 26 appearances, but his performances at Euro 2024 for Romania prove he can still do the business for Rangers.
“When you’re stuck between transfer windows and you’ve got a player at the club, what you might not necessarily have expected to be at the club, but you can integrate them into your squad, you can utilise them, you can get the best out of them”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“It’s down to the player and the player’s attitude and it’s clearly, had the manager spoken to him and said, look, this is a situation neither was expected. I didn’t expect you to be here, you didn’t expect to be here type thing.
“It suits nobody that he’s just sat there, whether he’s training with the Under-23s, training with the kids, or not part of the first team squad.
“It’s in both parties’ interest, we know that Rangers financially, they’re not as affluent as they would like to be and go and bring in a shedload of players.
“They’ve got a player like Hagi sat there, if the manager can utilise him in certain games to get the best out of him, then why wouldn’t they?
“He was out on loan last season at Alaves, I think he had a great Euros, he’s a good player and if you can get the best out of him, I think it’s sensible.
“It’s sensible from the manager, I think common sense has prevailed, you’re in a place where you’re stuck between two windows, the player didn’t necessarily want to be there, the manager might not necessarily wanted him there, but actually he’s a player who has got talent.
“If the manager can get the best out of him and utilise him, whether it’s till January, till the end of the season, it might forge a relationship between manager and player that works for both, but at the moment it looks like he’s been reintegrated back into the squad.”
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