Ianis Hagi's Rangers return 'took too long' as Kris Boyd welcomes Philippe Clement u turn
Kris Boyd has expressed his approval of Ianis Hagi's reintroduction to the Rangers' first-team scene but suggests the move should've come sooner.
Hagi had been sidelined to the B squad after being informed that he could seek a new club, as manager Philippe Clement aimed to reduce the wage bill at Ibrox to create room for recruiting new talent. Hagi is reportedly set to receive a salary boost upon his 100th game for the team, remained resolute in his determination to fight for a place, leading to a drastic change of heart by Clement and the Rangers management.
Boyd is happy to see Hagi back in play but believes he should have been have been recalled from the second string immediately after the transfer window shut without Hagi securing a departure from Govan. On Sky Sports he commented: "It's huge and I'm surprised it's taken so long to be honest with you."
"We're led to believe there were contract issues but it's not helping the player and it's not helping the club. You're having to pay him anyway. If Rangers were trying to move him on or Ianis Hagi wanted to move on, as soon as that window shut, that's when the negotiations should have started to come to some agreement. There's no point in paying someone anyway. Come to an agreement, get him back in the team.
"I touched on at the weekend that Rangers made a few changes. Tom Lawrence has been key to Rangers in recent times and a kind of get the feeling that with Ianis Hagi coming back in, he could easily go into that no 10 role and pay there and he can play off the wings as well.", reports the Daily Record.
"He's totally different to what Rangers have got there right now. Very good with both feet and I'm delighted that he's back in the fold. But it should have been done a long time before now because I do think that Hagi still has a place at Rangers.
"He'll be hoping that between now and January if that is the case, to go and put on performances. If he's going to get that move in January or next summer, then he has to be performing tand that can only be a good thing for Rangers as well."