A leading Scottish football journalist is claiming that Rangers defender Nikola Katic is set for a Croatian homecoming this deadline day.
Jordan Campbell of the Athletic made the claim on Twitter even if the journalist did not initially name the club.
Campbell claims that the move will also include a recall clause as Katic’s progress is closely monitored by Rangers with the player looking to recover from a substantial injury lay-off.
“Understand that Nikola Katic is heading on loan to a Croatian club. Rangers have built up his fitness this summer but he needs to play football after such a long time out,” said Campbell [Twitter].
“Expect that there will be a recall clause in the deal, as is common when a player is being monitored.”
Katic, 24, missed the entirety of last season with a cruciate ligament injury and with centre-back being a competitive position in the Rangers squad game time may be unlikely at Ibrox.
Given his need for minutes, a loan move most certainly makes sense and attention will now turn to where the player will be spending next season.
According to a report in Sportske Novosti earlier in the month, Katic was one of three centre-backs being monitored by the reigning Croatian champs Dinamo Zagreb.
However, a Croatian football Twitter account has now claimed that it’s actually Hadjuk Split who’ll be moving for the defender.
This is after long-term £4m Celtic target Mario Vuskovic moved to Rangers partners Hamburger SV.
Hadjuk were later confirmed by Jordan Campbell who also revealed that the Split side once turned down Katic as a boy.
Katic was signed from Croatian side Slaven Bepulo in 2018 for a reported £2m and was one of the first captures of the Steven Gerrard era.
A firm fan favourite at Ibrox, Gers fans will be hoping that Katic can recapture the fitness and form that saw him adored by the Ibrox legions in the early part of his career.
Meanwhile, a family member has given an update regarding the situation surrounding one heavily exit-linked Gers star.
