Rangers could be set to offer a new contract to an out of contract midfielder that would make him one of the longest serving players at Ibrox.
After the disastrous 2024/25 campaign Rangers released a host of players with first team experience such as Adam Devine, Cole Mckinnon, Tom Lawrence and Leon Balogun, who has since joined Connor Goldson in Cyprus with our former UEFA Europa League opponents Aris Limassol.
Joining them was a host of youth prospects and one man who had one of the most up and down Ibrox careers in living memory, Ianis Hagi.
Son of the great Gheorgi, Ianis was initially signed by Steven Gerrard on loan from Genk in January 2020, quickly impressing with a double to help us complete a historic comeback against Braga, adding to that with a winner against Hibernian at Ibrox.
This was enough for Gerrard to snap up the Romanian international in the summer of 2020 on a permanent deal and Hagi would become a key cog in the 55 winning machine that season.
The following season Hagi would establish himself as a regular during both the latter days of Gerrard and the early days of his successor Giovanni Van Bronckhorst before picking up a knee injury in a January Scottish Cup match with Stirling Albion at Ibrox which would see him out of action for over a year.
By the time he returned as a substitute against St Johnstone the following January Gio had departed and replaced by Gerrard’s old coach Michael Beale, he reintroduced Hagi sparingly over the season, with the former Fiorentina man scoring his first goal since his return against Hibs on the final day.
However, Beale would sign a number of players for Hagi’s position, and he would find himself loaned out to Alaves in La Liga by the end of August.
He would return and both the player and club would attempt to get Ianis a move, however, none would come to fruition and he would initially be frozen out by then gaffer Phillipe Clement due to a wage increase clause should he appear again.
This would be sorted out by October and Hagi would return to fan acclaim against St Johnstone, where he would unfortunately be sent off.
Upon his return to action Hagi would have an impact, scoring the opener against Celtic in the New Year’s Old Firm game at Ibrox and a double against Ross County in February.
Alas, his numbers would falter as the teams form took a further nosedive and Clement would be sacked and replaced by former club captain Barry Ferguson, Hagi would continue as a rotational option but at the end of last season his time was up and he was announced to be leaving as a free agent.
However, now there is rumours that representatives from Hagi’s side have contacted Rangers regarding another contract.
Following his release, he has had several offers from Romania and around Europe, but the best offer has come from an unnamed Polish club, at a lower offer than he had been looking to receive from Ibrox.
Now, faced with the prospect of playing at a lower level the agent of Hagi has asked about the possibility of an Ibrox extension on lower terms than they had initially demanded.
However, with new regime and management team at Ibrox may not be willing to open talks with his side. Would he be seen as a squad option worth persisting with by Russell Martin and co, or another deadwood relic of a past era to be left in the past?
We will see, Hagi doesn’t seem to suit the style of play Martin looks to play due to his lack of pace especially post injury, but on a cheaper deal he could be a creative option within the squad.
While we do not expect Rangers to offer an extended deal the contact has been made and as the window rolls on if the terms are right it could be something that is looked at.