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Genk backtrack on Hagi’s ‘done deal’ Ibrox move forcing BBC into rewrite

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Image for Genk backtrack on Hagi’s ‘done deal’ Ibrox move forcing BBC into rewrite

Around 8pm tonight a story appeared on the Genk website claiming that Ianis Hagi had left the club for Ibrox.

Without a second thought or any apparent attempt to confirm the story at the Scottish end the BBC and others went to town on the story as they delivered some perceived good news.

Soon the story was pulled from the Genk website with BBC Scotland forced into a hasty rewrite.

Rangers are closing in on a permanent move for KRC Genk winger Ianis Hagi but have not yet finalised it, the Belgian club have confirmed.

Genk announced the completion of the deal on their website on Tuesday, but then told BBC Scotland they acted prematurely and the article has since been deleted.

Hagi, 21, moved to Ibrox on loan in January for the rest of the season. Rangers had an option to buy after the expiry of the loan.

Hagi, son of Barcelona and Real Madrid icon Gheorghe Hagi, scored three goals in 12 appearances for Rangers – including a double in the Europa League last-32 win against Braga – before football in Scotland was suspended on 13 March.

It seems that nothing has changed, nothing has progressed since the weekend when an optimistic agent claimed that the midfielder had joined the Juventus of Scotland.

With players having their wages deferred and Jon Flanagan, Andy Halliday, Wes Foderingham and Jordan Rossiter due their final salary at the end of June agents will be watching very closely over a transfer fee reported to be in the region of £4-5m.

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