Leicester manager Claude Puel has hinted that defender Filip Benkovic could be leaving the King Power on loan amid reported interest from Celtic.
According to the Daily Mail, the Hoops are lining up a loan swoop for Bekovic, 21, with Dedryck Boyata expected to leave Glasgow before the Scottish transfer window slams shut on Friday.
When asked about the 6ft 4in (transfermarkt) colossus’ link to Celtic, Puel responded by suggesting first team football will be limited for the Croatian centre-back and that a temporary exit is on the cards.
“What I can say about Filip is, we will see if he has a possibility to go out on loan. But, I’m happy to have this player because he’s talented. We want to continue to develop him, but we have a lot of centre backs,” said Puel, as quoted by BBC Leicester Sport via their official Twitter account on Thursday.
Puel on Benkovic being linked with Celtic: “What I can say about Filip is, we will see if he has a possibility to go out on loan. But, I’m happy to have this player because he’s talented. We want to continue to develop him, but we have a lot of centre backs”
— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) August 30, 2018
OPINION
Benkovic would be a class late addition for Celtic, but Brendan Rodgers really shouldn’t have left it this late to make additions to his defence when it was so clear it should have been his first priority in the summer transfer window. Boyata looks as though he is going to leave after it was widely reported that he was refusing to play for the club and even if he did stay, the Hoops’ defence is clearly their weak link with Jack Hendry, Jozo Simunovic and the elusive Marvin Commper nowhere near good enough. Benkovic is decent though and is an upgrade on Rodgers’ current options. Leicester would not have paid £13million for him if he wasn’t any good and their overseas recruitment in the last five years has been brilliant. He is one for the future for the Foxes, and with Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Wes Morgan being proven operaters in the Premier League, Benkovic’s game time would be limited so a loan makes sense for all parties. He is yet to feature in the Premier League this season, so he would probably be keen on the idea of going to Glasgow on loan.