Niko Katic close to leaving Rangers permanently
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 28: Nikola Katic of Rangers arrives at the stadium prior to the Betfred Scottish League Cup Semi Final between Aberdeen and Rangers at Hampden Park on October 28, 2018 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Niko Katic’s Rangers nightmare is close to ending after Croat side Hadjuk Split sold a few players and emerged as now having the funds to invest in Rangers’ unwanted defender.
The stopper, 25, has been keen on the return to Split, but the Hrvatska nogometna liga (or HNL to you and I) side couldn’t afford the €1.5M fee in January, so he played out his loan spell and returned to Ibrox, aware that new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst wasn’t interested in him.
He gave an interview confirming his place at Rangers was in trouble, and without saying it, implied he’d like to return to Split and stay there.
But now it seems the two clubs have come to agreement for a fee around £800,000 to end Katic’s nightmare and give him his career back permanently.
Katic is well-loved by Rangers fans, and this move will frustrate some Rangers fans who would rather the Croat than James Sands or John Souttar, but Gio has confirmed Katic will leave, whether it’s to Split or anyone else.
He’s just not the kind of defender the manager wants, and that’s all there is to it.
Sooner this deal (or any other) can be completed, the better for all parties.