Darren Bent has been blown away by Rangers' permanent signing of Ianis Hagi from KRC Genk, per Football Insider.
The Scottish club confirmed the acquisition of the 21-year-old last week, signing a long-term deal with the Ibrox club.
Hagi had joined the club on an initial loan deal in the January transfer window, playing 12 times in all competitions, scoring three goals and registering two assists, per Transfermarkt.
The Scottish Sun has reported that Rangers have paid £3m for Hagi's signature, and Bent believes that the deal is an excellent one for Steven Gerrard's side.
Indeed, the former Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, and Aston Villa striker believes that securing such a deal before the opening of the summer transfer window is a clever move, allowing the son of Romanian great Gheorghe Hagi to settle ahead of another season in Scotland's top-flight.
He said: “It’s so important. From a player’s perspective, it’s so important because you need to be settled – you don’t want anything up in the air.
“You want to be going back, knowing what you’re doing. I’ve had situations where I’ve not signed for anyone and I’m waiting, waiting, waiting. It’s so unsettling, you’re waiting by the phone, hoping this and that are going to happen and you just feel unsettled.
“I’ve also been in the situation where I’ve done the deal really, really early so I know where I’m going back to pre-season, I’m settled, ready to go and in good spirits.
“I think it’s important for Hagi and other people to get deals done as early as possible to give them that peace of mind.”
He added: “When you know the manager wants you and you get the deal done early and the club believe in you, it’s massive, it’s humongous. Now you can really focus on being a top performer next season.”
GIVEMESPORT'S Harry Sherlock says...
Bent is spot on here.
It remains to be seen if Hagi will actually become a star under Gerrard, as the sample size is really just too small to know at this point.
But the ex-Liverpool legend placing his faith in the youngster should mean the world to the Romania international, who has won 10 caps for his country.
It sets him up for a season in which he will surely be given the chance to thrive at Ibrox, and he has already shown glimpses that he could set the Scottish top-flight alight.
Indeed, perhaps his best display in a Rangers shirt thus far came in a Europa League clash with Braga, in which he netted a brace in a 3-2 victory.
There may well be more to come.