Rangers FC picked up a key 1-0 win over Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership this weekend and it was Ianis Hagi who scored the only goal of the match.
Hagi signed for Rangers FC permanently this summer from Genk and during the 2020-21 season, the 22-year-old has featured in 16 league games so far.
According to TransferMarkt, only 50% of these matches have been starts but the way he’s improving, Noel Whelan predicts the attacking midfielder could very well be a regular starter for the Gers next year.
Whelan told Football Insider: “He’s definitely got the ability because Steven Gerrard brought him in.
“Steven Gerrard, being the midfield player he was and having leadership and quality that he did, he’s obviously seen something in Hagi otherwise he wouldn’t have brought in.
“He’s progressing players and there’s competition all over the field at Rangers which they’ve not had before.
“Everybody is playing out of their skin. When you get given an opportunity you’ve got to make it count, you’ve got to create, you’ve got to be busy, you’ve got to work hard defensively.
“If you get on the scoresheet you get Gerrard thinking ‘Can I leave him out?’
“Everybody is rising for Steven Gerrard and what he wants from his squad. Which is a competition for places. With Morelos out recently the goalscorers are showing they don’t need him, they can go and win games without him.
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“Hagi’s doing everything right to force his way into the side regularly and showing why Gerrard bought him.”
Ianis Hagi has scored four and assisted nine goals so far this season for Rangers FC and with each passing matchweek, the youngster has been staking his claim in the starting line-up.
Right now the Teddy Bears have a 16-point lead at the top of the table and if they can maintain this gap over the holiday season then there’s every chance that players like Hagi feature regularly for Gerrard.
