Celtic want to re-sign Filip Benkovic from Premier League side Leicester in the summer, the Croatian centre-back has confirmed.
Benkovic, 21, is coming to the end of his season-long loan spell at Parkhead but he has revealed that Neil Lennon wants him to stay on at the Scottish champions into the 2019/20 campaign.
He has also confirmed that talks about his future are scheduled to take place at Leicester before a decision is made on whether or not he can return to Celtic Park for a second loan spell.
“I read the comments from Brendan Rodgers. At the moment I really do not know what will happen when my loan expires,” Benkovic said, as quoted by Sky Sports‘ live transfer blog on Monday [11:34am].
“I’ve spoken to the sports director at Leicester and he’s told me everyone at the club will soon sit down and decide what is best for me.
“I have spoken to Neil Lennon He told me that he would like me to stay at Celtic for another season. I must admit, when I first signed for Celtic, I didn’t expect it to be as good as it has been.”
OPINION
Benkovic has had issue after issue with injuries and fitness at Celtic this season but when he has played we have seen how good the 6ft 4 (transfermarkt) colossus can be. Lennon has found Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic to be his best centre-back pairing in recent weeks which has left a fit Benkovic on the bench and an unused substitute in the last four Scottish Premiership fixtures. However Lennon may just be trying to get the best out of the players who care contracted to the club before their futures are assessed in the summer. With Benkovic it is pretty clear what Celtic would get if they sign him again. He won’t be able to play every match and he won’t be able to play on artificial surfaces, but he would be the best centre-back in Scotland if he was able to keep on playing regularly. With Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire impressing at Leicester it might be hard for Benkovic to get game-time if he returns there. It’s a win-win all round if Celtic are able to sign the Croatian defender again.