Alexi Pitu has addressed Rangers' reported interest in signing him - and admits he'd love to reunite with Ianis Hagi at Ibrox.
The 20-year-old winger is one of Romanian football's hottest prospects and came through the Gheorge Hagi Academy before signing for Farul Constanta - the club owned and operated by the Rangers star's famous father. He's had a stellar season with five goals and five assists and reports last week linked him with a move to Ibrox alongside Hagi Jnr.
The two spent a season together at Constanta before Hagi left for Fiorentina, which set him on his path to Ibrox. And Pitu admits he'd 'love' to play with his old pal again. He said: "Yes I would very much love to play with Ianis again, but first I want to win the title with Farul Constanta. I focus on football, I do my training and in the matches, I try to give my best. I understand the interest in playing with Ianis at Rangers and of course, it would be very nice. But I'm still a Farul player and I need to concentrate only on the important matches we have coming up this season."
Rangers were also linked with a move for Pitu and Hagi's former Romania U21 teammate Darius Olaru back in the summer and he could be an option again as the Ibrox boss looks for midfield reinforcements. Todd Cantwell appears to be the main target while Tom Davies has been linked although it's understood Everton would prefer to sell up rather than loan out. He's on a reported £25,000 per week at Goodison Park, so he'd set Gers back a significant salary plus a fee to land him permanently before his contract expires in the summer.
Meanwhile Alfredo Morelos has been snubbed by his Mexican suitors after Tigres pulled out of the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt countryman Rafael Santos Borre and immediately splashed out £7 million to sign another striker. The Ibrox hitman was linked with a move to the Mexican giants if their attempts to sign Europa League hero Borre came to nothing.
Tigres finally pulled the plug at the weekend on their efforts and to sign Borre - who netted the equaliser in the Europa League Final against Rangers in May - after the Bundesliga side demanded £12 million for their star striker. But instead of going in for Morelos, they quickly moved to snap up Pachuca striker Nicolas Ibanez, who was the top scorer in Mexico last season.
They need a new striker to eventually replace French veteran striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, who is now 37. And they have got their business done by signing 28-year-old Argentinian hitman Ibanez instead of trying to land Morelos now or when he is out of contract in the summer.
Tigres boss Diego Cocca said: "It's no secret that we wanted another striker. We are delighted to add another quality player to the squad."
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