Breaking News:Rangers are willing to tear up £3m man’s contract and let him leave Ibrox for free
They say the Dutch are straight-talking. But, in the case of Philippe Clement, it is an attribute that travels well across the border too.
Rangers’ Belgian head coach pulled no punches in midweek when he said that – alongside Jose Cifuentes and Todd Cantwell and following Sam Lammers – Ianis Hagi would face no obstacles if he receives an offer to leave Ibrox before the end of the transfer window.
“No,” was Clement’s rather brutal response when asked if Hagi was in his plans for 2024/25, via Rangers’ official YouTube channel. “We had clearly talked with him before the pre-season already, and with his agents, about that.
“We need to look at a lot of things with the club. About wages, about how many players you can have in a position, with the budget we have, and to get a budget to make transfers.
“It was really clear that the idea is to sell. That’s what he wanted also. So, that’s the clear situation.”
Crystal.
But in terms of the clubs who may be willing to offer Hagi a fresh start, things are about as ‘clear’ as mud.
Rangers could let Ianis Hagi leave Ibrox for free
A move to Fenerbahce – manager Jose Mourinho was an admirer during his Tottenham Hotspur days – has been played down.
Fiorentina were linked as well. But they instead brought in Monza talisman Andrea Colpani for a deal that could be worth £13.5 million.
Apart from that, it’s been radio silence as far as Hagi is concerned.
The Glasgow giants are reportedly willing to rip up the final 12 months of his contract. And while that would deny Rangers a transfer fee, it would also save them from having to stump up Hagi’s wages until July 2025.
And, furthermore, how much would Rangers really expect to earn if they sold the former Genk starlet now anyway?
Following a miserable couple of years – and with his deal running down – the Premiership challengers may be hard pressed even recouping their £3 million investment.
Clement’s comments were made in the build-up to Tuesday’s 1-1 draw away to Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier.
Despite Cantwell’s removal from the first-team picture, there was not even a place for Hagi among the substitutes as Tom Lawrence started in the number ten role.
A last-gasp equaliser from Cyriel Dessers following some fine approach work from new recruits Jefte and Vaclav Cerny, meanwhile, means Rangers have a result to take back to Ibrox.
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