Despite recent claims that Rangers might be short a centre-half or two and even suggestions that we should have re-signed Leon Balogun, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has more than enough cover for the heart of the defence.
One player who has enjoyed the highs and lows of playing for the first team is Niko Katic but he is miles out of the picture now and has been told that he is free to find a new club after Hadjuk Split failed to take up their option to buy from last season’s loan spell but, he could yet end up in the Champions League, according to a report in The Glasgow Times:
“Rangers outcast Nikola Katic could be handed a Champions League lifeline for his career by lining up against Lionel Messi and Neymar with Israeli side Maccabi Haifa poised to swoop.
“The Croatian defender is frozen out at Ibrox after returning from a loan spell at Hajduk Split last season and is expected to leave before the end of the transfer window this week.
“And ambitious Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa – who will play against Messi and Neymar-inspired PSG, Juventus and Benfica in the Champions League – have enquired about signing the 25-year-old, either on a permanent deal or on loan.”
Katic is out of contract at the end of this season so a loan doesn’t really make much financial sense for Rangers, he may be out of favour under Giovanni van Bronckhorst but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t capable of being a good player in the right team.
From his display against Legia Warsaw at home to his headed winner at Parkhead, the towering stopper can look back on his time at Rangers with pride – if it comes to an end that is.