Steven Gerrard hints Rangers could loan out Nikola Katic
Steven Gerrard has rubbished speculation surrounding Nikola Katic’s future at Rangers but suggests the centre-back could be sent out on loan this month.
Katic, 24, missed the whole of last season with a serious knee injury but he’s close to returning to fitness after playing for the reserves team in their SPFL Trophy win over Dumbarton last week.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference on Wednesday ahead of the Gers’ Europa League showdown with Alashkert, Gerrard was quoted by the club’s official Twitter account as saying: “Niko (Katic) needs to play football and we are looking at options.
“In terms of people putting saying his future is done here, that is wide of the mark. He has had a serious injury and it is about getting him the games and getting back up to speed after that level of injury. “
Loan move makes sense
Rangers’ defence has not performed well at the start of this season, especially in the two 2-1 defeats to Malmo in the Champions League.
There is a case for Katic to stay and compete with the likes of Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Filip Helander in Gerrard’s defence.
However, the Gers boss seems to feel as though Katic would benefit from a loan spell away from Ibrox in order to get the feel for playing again and returning to full match fitness.
According to the Daily Record, there are clubs who are keen to take the Croatia defender on loan before the end of this month.
It is understood that teams in Italy are interested while ex-Hibernian striker Tam McManus has told PLZ Soccer that he’d like to see the Gers defender head to Easter Road on a temporary basis.
It would be beneficial for everyone if Katic went out on a season-long loan with the option for the Light Blues to recall him in January.
If he does well at a loan club, he can come back in the winter and compete with Gerrard’s main centre-backs.
If not, he can see out the season there and a decision could be made next summer.
In other Rangers news, fans are fuming with a “joke” of a bid for one of the players.