Celtic are close to signing Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic on a season-long loan, Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.
The Hoops manager revealed in the aftermath of his team’s qualification for the Europa League group stages last night (Thursday) that a deal is all but done for the centre-back.
Benkovic joined the Premier League club from Dinamo Zagreb in a deal worth around £13million this summer, but Celtic are set to take advantage of his place in the pecking order at the Foxes as Rodgers admitted for the first time he is heading to Parkhead.
“I’m not sure if it’s totally confirmed yet but he’s one we’re interested in,” Rodgers said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “Again, he’s a young guy with a bright future at Leicester but we’ll hopefully take him on loan and develop his game.
“He is a big threat in both boxes, a big presence, and that’s something I think the team needs.”
OPINION
Benkovic has the presence that Celtic badly need. The Glasow giants salved some of their European disappointment with a 3-0 win last night to secure a passage to the Europa League group stages, but they have been crying out for the qualities that Benkovic possesses. A Croatia Under-21 international, he made 30 appearances in all competitions for Dinamo Zagreb last season and helped them clinch the Croatian league title. The 21-year-old, who stands at 6ft 4in (source: Transfermarkt), has failed to make the Leicester team since his summer arrival, but there is no shame in that given that Harry Maguire and Wes Morgan are the established central defensive partnership, with summer signings Jonny Evans and another summer signing Caglar Söyüncü also waiting in the wings. Celtic appear likely to hold on to Dedryck Boyata, which will at least provide Celtic with a senior centre-back until January, but Kristoffer Ajer, Jozo Simunovic and Jack Hendry are either brittle or inexperienced. Benkovic is the latter, but he is at least a powerhouse of real pedigree and can challenge immediately for a first-team place.