Misfit Ianis Hagi WOULD reportedly consider a Rangers exit in January – but only on a permanent basis.
The playmaker has been relegated to the B team with boss Philippe Clement ruling the Romania international out of his first-team plans. Record Sport that a clause in the 25-year-old’s contract would see him receive a wage rise should he play one more game for Rangers – with the midfielder currently sitting on 99 appearances for the Light Blues.
And while Hagi dug his heels in over an exit last summer, Romanian outlet Sport claim that the door is now opening for a move away from the Light Blues when the winter window opens. It is claimed that the player believes his loan spell at La Liga “did not help him at all” and that he believes “loaned players receive fewer opportunities” which led to him knocked back a temporary exit from the Scottish Premiership.
It is claimed that all loan offers were simply “rejected” on this basis. He is said to have told his agent that he wants to be sold permanently or would stay and fight for a chance at Ibrox.
One man who did leave Rangers on loan last summer was Ben Davies – and he reckons his experience of life in Glasgow is helping him shine at Birmingham City. The cash-rich Blues are expected to win every game – and Davies reckons that is a similar pressure to being at Ibrox.
He told Birmingham Live: “Going up to Rangers has helped me deal with that expectation and pressure of winning every game. It’s made me more comfortable with that situation. I’ve had good life experiences, plenty of football clubs and plenty of loans. I’m quite an experienced player now and I feel like I can implement that into the team.”
Back in 2023, Rangers knocked back the chance to sign James Sands on a £4m permanent deal from New York City FC. And the American is now back shining in the MLS after Michael Beale and Ross Wilson decided he wasn’t worth the fee.
NYFC head coach Nick Cushing insists that the midfielder is showing his best Stateside, stating: “It’s really important for us. He should be really proud.
“He’s homegrown, he’s our player. He’s somebody that this year has shown his quality. If you look at data and the statistics, I think he wins the most tackles, the most duels, he regains the most balls in MLS. And that is a huge thing to have on your team.
“I can’t speak highly enough about James Sands. He is a top player, he’s New York through and through. And you know, sometimes I think these moments are written – for James Sands to score the equaliser against Miami here. It’s a really good moment for us, it’s an opportunity for us.”