Nikola Katic warned Rangers return clock is ticking as Alfredo Morelos set to sever Caixinha ties - Ibrox transfer news
Nikola Katic has been warned time is running out on his potential Rangers return by FC Zurich boss Ricardo Moniz and risks ending up in a "difficult situation."
Katic spent four years at Rangers and helped Steven Gerrard end a decade-long wait for a Premiership title in 2021. Philippe Clement needs to ease a defensive injury crisis and Record Sport exclusively revealed that Katic was well up for a move back to Ibrox from Switzerland. Katic is keen to move on from Zurich and missed training at the start of this week as he pondered his future. However, Zurich manager Moniz has revealed he is back working with his squad ahead of today's game against FC Luzern.
But the 28-year-old faces a race against time to clinch a move to Glasgow. Moniz said: "Nikola has started training again with the first team. His wish was an early transfer, but now the transfer window is not open for much longer. There have been no offers. What happens if he cannot complete his desired transfer? I don't know. It would be a difficult situation. But it is a matter between the player and the club's board."
Katic, who was capped by Croatia before switching his international allegiances to Bosnia, made 59 appearances for Rangers, but his time at Ibrox was hampered by a serious knee injury suffered in 2020. He was eventually shipped out on loan to Hajduk Split before completing a move to FC Zurich two-and-a-half years ago.
Meanwhile Alfredo Morelos has completed another loan move back to Atletico Nacional and the Colombian club have an option to buy the former Rangers striker for £2.5million. He was on loan last season too and helped Nacional to a league and cup double after rediscovering his scoring touch by netting seven goals in 18 starts.
But he had to return to parent club Santos, who are now managed by ex-Rangers flop boss Pedro Caixinha, who signed Morelos at Ibrox in 2017. However, Caixinha has sanctioned another loan move for his former player and he looks certain to sever all ties with Pele's former club if Nacional turn the loan move into a permanent one.
Morelos worked with former Celtic defender Efrain Juarez last term, with the Mexican hailed as a hero after managing Nacional to a Colombian double. But he surprisingly quit after disagreeing with the club's board about their transfer policy, ironically reportedly because of their failure to confirm the return of Morelos.
Morelos, 28, will now work with newly-appointed boss Javier Gandolfi - an Argentinian manager who was headhunted from Ecuadorian champions Independiente del Valle
