Chris Sutton is convinced giant defender Filip Benkovic will remain at Celtic for the rest of the season.
The Croatian joined the Scottish champions on a season-long loan at the end of the summer transfer window but subsequently revealed that his parent club Leicester City have the option to recall him in January.
But former Celtic striker and BT Sport pundit Sutton does not expect the centre-back to return to the Premier League outfit midway through the campaign.
“He has the option of going back to Leicester in January,” Sutton told BT Sport (12:30) on Sunday morning, as quoted by their Twitter account. “Do I think he’s going back? I think Leicester have centre-back options, I would be surprised if he went back to Leicester.”
"I want to see it in Europe, I like domestic success but we need to see it in Europe."@chris_sutton73 is happy the sun is shining and Celtic are playing well but wants to see success outside of Scotland…https://t.co/nv8iGpfofW
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 4, 2018
OPINION
It would be great news for Celtic and their fans if Sutton is right and Leicester reject the chance to recall Benkovic in January. With Harry Maguire and Wes Morgan the established centre-back partnership in Claude Puel’s side, and Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu as back-ups, the Foxes are well served in the centre-back position and it is likely only an injury crisis could force them to exercise the recall option in the 21-year-old’s season-long loan. Benkovic has slotted in impressively at Celtic, forming an impressive partnership with mainstay Dedryck Boyata, although Sutton and others have questioned why he was not used in the marquee Europa League matches. Certainly, the 6ft 4in (source: Transfermarkt) Croatian’s aerial prowess, composure and class have added a new dimension to the defence and he is far superior to alternative youthful options Jack Hendry and Kristoffer Ajer. It would be a huge bonus if he remained in the squad for the rest of the campaign.