'Rangers have been in contact'... Ianis Hagi transfer saga sees January exit u-turn

Yesterday at 06:00 AM

Rangers are starting to look more like a competent football team and Philippe Clement is learning what players work with others.

The injury list is down to just Rabbi Matondo in terms of those in the treatment room with Danilo and Ridvan Yilmaz close to joining their teammates. 

What this means is that the manager has more options in his squad than he has had previously, however, one international class player remains on the outside looking in. 

• READ MORE:'I want to go home' interview shows why Rangers never stood a chance after rejected transfer bid

Ianis Hagi transfer twist takes another Rangers exit direction

The saga of Ianis Hagi has taken another twist though, with a report from Romanian media outlet Sport claiming that a potential January exit comes with a caveat. 

It seems bizarre to have a fit, experienced and good quality player with over 40 international caps training with the B team purely because he isn't the type of number 10 that the manager wants.

There must be more to it than this with Clement adamant nothing has changed despite Hagi's social media pleas for a return to action. 

Despite a successful European Championships, Hagi's only option was to return home, but he rejected these overtures in favour of fighting for his place at Ibrox. 

He remains an isolated figure at Auchenhowie stuck in limbo as the B team play games and the 25-year old trains purely just to keep fit. 

The report by journalist Cristian Soitu reveals that various options have been considered with Hagi now willing to bend, slightly: 

“Rangers have been in contact with several interested clubs, including in the Scottish Premier League, and have come up with several possible solutions for Ianis. 

"However, Ianis initially rejected the possibility of leaving Rangers on loan.

"He has told the club, through his agents, that he will either be out for good or stay and fight for a first-team chance.

"Ianis no longer wanted to leave on loan because he believes that the experience at Alavés did not help him at all."

Hagi felt like, because he was on loan, that minutes would be given to players on permanent contracts at the Liga outfit.

Hagi stand-off needs to be resolved

Where Rangers are at now is a bizarre situation.

The transfer windows have closed where Hagi could be sold to, and he is still at the club.

It makes more sense to pay him a potential wage rise to have him as part of the squad than it does to pay him not to play at all. 

He's too good a player for this and, even off the bench, he offers cover in a variety of positions.

Also, why would anyone want to buy a player who hasn't been playing, surely giving him a chance to show what he can do would maximise any chances of selling him in either of the next two windows?

Hopefully a solution can be found because the current situation isn't helping anyone.