This piece is an extract from yesterday's Rangers Insider newsletter, which is emailed out at 4pm every weekday with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from the Rangers Review team.

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Just a few days ago, Michael Beale revealed that a senior member of the squad had agreed new terms to extend his stay at Ibrox.

He immediately ruled out Ryan Kent while others hoped it would mean a breakthrough on Alfredo Morelos. There was some other consideration for the likes of Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack but those agreements with the elder statesmen of the squad tend to be announced at the end of the season. No, instead it would be a curveball with the news confirmed on Thursday that Ianis Hagi had put pen to paper, prolonging his time in Glasgow.

It was unexpected for different reasons. Hagi has not played since January when he suffered a serious knee injury but thankfully is now back amongst the squad with a return to contention not far away. With that significant setback in mind, Rangers are also taking a calculated risk when there is no guarantee of the player’s level of performance and peak fitness in the months to follow.

It was interesting to note that the length of the new deal was not made clear by the club but given what we do know and the situation around the Romanian international, a multi-year deal appears unlikely. Even another couple of years of the contract protects Rangers' asset for a man who is yet to truly deliver on his full potential despite several moments of high quality along his journey at Ibrox so far.

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At just 24, there should still be plenty more to come from this dedicated professional. His rehab from injury has been long and arduous but his sense of purpose and strong mentality has aided the recovery. Hagi could only sit and watch on from the stands during the mazy run to the Europa League Final in Seville. Much to his frustration. He craves the big stage and the demands to perform as much as he embraces the pressure that is ever present at Ibrox which is just as well, given that he is the son of the legendary Gheorghe. All his life and career to date, there has been that huge shadow cast behind him but as a confident, assured man in his own right, Ianis is ready and willing to write his own story.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s reign came and went largely without the services for the former Fiorentina and Genk player who will now draw plenty of encouragement from working under Michael Beale once again, picking up from where they left off most notably in the title-winning season of 2021. Hagi returned a significant seven goals and 11 assists during that campaign, can those numbers return under Beale?

Looking forward, Hagi told the Rangers official website of his near return: “It is good. I am in my final stages right now. Things are just around the corner. I am just taking it day by day as I know it is really hard not to think about the final destination. It has almost been 11 months since my surgery and I have been patient until now. I have to be patient every day and listen to my physio and hopefully, it is earlier rather than later.”

Hagi will be patient to ensure his next step is one taken at the right time, but eventually, he will be keen to make up for lost time. There is also the issue of nailing down a spot for himself in a preferred position rather than letting his adaptability across the front third hold back his progression. Hagi is a very talented player, but he now has to go and show it on a consistent basis in a Rangers shirt.