---
title: "Rangers: Connor Goldson exit could benefit Nikola Katic"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-connor-goldson-exit-could-benefit-nikola-katic/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Rangers News"
published: "2022-05-10T19:40:55Z"
modified: "2022-05-10T19:40:55Z"
---

# Rangers: Connor Goldson exit could benefit Nikola Katic

**Rangers could look within to Nikola Katic following the impending departure of Connor Goldson, according to [Football Scotland](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/rangers-loanees-futures-assessed-aaron-23905997).**

### The lowdown

Katic will return to Glasgow in the summer when his season-long loan at Hajduk Split reaches its end. It’s not a certainty however, because the Croatian club [do have the option](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/rangers-loanees-futures-assessed-aaron-23905997) to sign him permanently for £3million.

Rangers [turned down the opportunity](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/rangers-loanees-futures-assessed-aaron-23905997) to recall Katic in January, but they are set to lose a centre-back in the summer, with Goldson ‘[likely to leave under freedom of contract](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/rangers-loanees-futures-assessed-aaron-23905997)‘.

It’s worth noting that the Gers have already secured the signing of John Souttar and can also call upon the likes of Leon King, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun.

[Rangers news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-4/)

### The latest

[Journalist Ross Pilcher](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/rangers-loanees-futures-assessed-aaron-23905997) writes that Van Bronckhorst ‘may well see a place’ for Katic after Goldson moves on.

King has ‘shown promise’, he says, but the manager may value ‘the experience’ Katic provides.

As such, the Croatian may ‘still have a role to play’ at Ibrox.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389420″\]

### The verdict

First and foremost, should Hajduk Split be expected to activate their purchase option?

Well, he’s [started 17 league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-katic/leistungsdaten/spieler/422051) during his loan spell, having joined ahead of match-day eight, so he is valued there.

But £3m is far from small change for the club. In fact, going by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/hnk-hajduk-split/transferrekorde/verein/447/plus/0/galerie/0?saison_id=&pos=&detailpos=&altersklasse=&w_s=) figures, it would far outstrip their existing transfer record of £1.8million. Given that the website only values Katic at [£900,000](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-katic/leistungsdaten/spieler/422051), they may not deem it a worthwhile outlay.

That could see him come back to Rangers, for whom he’s made [59 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-katic/leistungsdaten/spieler/422051) and [scored a memorable goal at Parkhead](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50882543).

Katic could count former boss Steven Gerrard among his admirers, judging by an exchange between the pair when he moved to Aston Villa. In reply to a farewell message from the defender, Gerrard wrote: “[Love you, kid](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19715267.steven-gerrards-touching-response-rangers-star-nikola-katics-emotional-message/).”

And the ex-Liverpool man also hailed him as an ‘[immaculate](https://www.rangersnews.uk/club-news/rangers-boss-gerrard-praises-katic-professionalism-ahead-of-braga-clash/)‘ professional during his time at Ibrox.

**In other news, [Rangers’ potential Europa League windfall has been broken down](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-news/rangers-kieran-maguire-news-europa-league/).**