Rangers TV pundit issues Nikola Katic claim as £3m decision made
Alan Hutton has tipped Nikola Katic to return to the Rangers first team following a season-long loan with Hadjuk Split.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers right-back insisted Giovanni van Bronckhorst will give everyone a fair chance to be in the first team.
Katic, 25, spent last season on loan with Croatian side Hadjuk Split that included an option-to-buy for around £3million.
The defender has made appearances in both of Rangers’ pre-season friendlies so far.
Glasgow Live reported (16 June) that Hadjuk Split opted against making the Croatian international’s loan move permanent.
Sporting director Mindaugas Nikolicius said the asking price for the defender was “too high”.
When asked if he thought Katic could challenge for a place in the Rangers first team next season, Hutton told Football Insider: “I think the manager will give everybody a fair shot at it.
“He was a rock in defence before he picked up a serious injury so it was disappointing for him.
“He’s still young he’s still got a lot of time on his side. So I think going out on loan, back to where he was familiar, he knew the team. Things like that kind of make you feel comfortable and he was able to get back to playing football.
“So him coming back, with a view to break into the first team, will obviously be his goal. There’s a lot of competition there with John Souttar coming in, [Connor] Goldson is a stick-on to play so there’s only one possibility.
“So he’s going to have to use this preseason wisely and really prove to the manager that he’s up to the task. I think he showed that when he first signed for the club, how good a defender he can be.
“So it’s about game time for him now. He’s over the injury and it’s about just trying to break into the team.”
In other news, a source has reported that Rangers star Josh McPake set to complete move this week amid five-club race.