Despite having their players defer wages and have members of staff on furlough, Rangers have made their first move in the transfer market by taking up the option to buy on Ianis Hagi from Genk with the fee expected to be in the region of £3million.
The Romanian scored three goals in 12 games during his initial loan spell at Ibrox and failed to prevent them dropping 11 points further behind Celtic after the winter break.
Much has been made of their financial difficulties again this season requiring another £10m from directors to be invested just to keep the lights on which led to BBC pundit, Michael Stewart posing a few awkward questions recently.
• Where does the money for a substantial transfer come from?
• If the money is there, is Hagi the guy to go for?
• I’m sure the players and staff who have deferred wages will be keen to see what happens.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 https://t.co/pZAUSmkaiC— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) May 24, 2020
Celtic fans took to Twitter in response to the announcement, agreeing with Stewart, as their noisy neighbours panic in their attempts to put a halt to the Hoops unprecedented domestic dominance.
At least 3 years until he’s paid for anyway. 🤣
— Luigi Scappattici (@luiScapp68) May 27, 2020
They will be out of business again before they pay that off
— Sir Ruiz Hauser Fitzgerald (@Samual0Smith) May 27, 2020
Paid over 100 years!
— Des (@johndes123) May 27, 2020
Along with a “long term” ayment plan
— gary mac (@garyjohnmcnally) May 27, 2020
£100m player for 3.3m madness 🤣
— Andrew white (@WhiteWhitey2017) May 27, 2020
Be hoping now they can get a CVA and pay pennies in the pound.
— Big G (@BigGMM76) May 27, 2020
Rangers have “previous” for not paying their bills and at a time when money is tight across football the only surprise is that there aren’t more pundits like Stewart questioning the deal and the finances of a club previously classed as “a going concern“.