IN HOT PURSUIT

Rangers close in on Katic as a partner for Goldson

RANGERS last night moved a step closer to capturing Croatian international defender Nikola Katic.

As Sportsmail first reported, the Ibrox club are vying with Spartak Moscow for the signature of the 21-year-old and Steven Gerrard hopes to pair Katic with Connor Goldson in a new-look central defence after completing the paperwork on a £3million deal for the Brighton man last night.

Big-spending Spartak were favourites to outmuscle Rangers for the former Under-21 international (right).

However, reports in Croatia claim negotiations with the Russian giants are now in danger of breaking down.

And Rangers’ hopes of persuading Katic to make the switch to Glasgow have grown following discussions with selling club Slaven Belupo and agent Mladen Kliskinic yesterday.

Slaven Belupo sporting director Zvonimir Simunovic

remained tight-lipped on the Rangers move last night, telling Sportsmail: ‘I can’t comment about Nikola at the moment, please understand my position. ‘Everything will be clear very soon.’ Agent Kliskinic was scheduled to fly to Russia for talks with Spartak this morning. And while the Russians have not yet pulled out of the race, Rangers management are cautiously optimistic Katic will become their sixth signing of the summer after Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor, Ovie Ejaria, Jamie Murphy and Goldson. The Brighton defender has completed the formalities of a £3m deal and will join his new team-mates at their pre-season training base in Spain next week after becoming a new father.