Following a damaging defeat, some Celtic fans have made it clear that they want their club to sign former defender Filip Benkovic in the upcoming January transfer window.
Neil Lennon’s men are still first in the Premiership table. But the defeat to Steven Gerrard’s men saw their lead at the top get cut short to just two points. And the Gers could climb to the top of the table if they win their game in hand.
The game saw Kristoffer Ajer make an error to help Nikola Katic score a second-half winner. Odsonne Edouard had scored an equaliser after Ryan Kent had scored for the Gers.
Celtic fans: Do you want Benkovic back?
He is a must buy!
He's not good either
Some Celtic fans are sure that their club should go after Benkovic in the upcoming January transfer window.
Sign Benkovic. He’d be our number one centre back.
— Cal (@CMcCeltic) December 29, 2019
If there is a chance a getting benkovic in do it. Ajer needs some time on the bench
— Paddy (@paddy_farrell) December 29, 2019
Filip Benkovi?. Get him signed.
— Placid Casual (@Plac1dCasual) December 30, 2019
BENKOVIC bring him HOME
— Paul (@wyndbhoy) December 29, 2019
benkovic is a must buy
— Zak Robb (@ZicoRobb) December 29, 2019
Get Benkovic back in
— Colingoli Frimpong (@colnrodgers) December 29, 2019
So far this season, Ajer has been a regular central defender alongside summer signing Christopher Jullien. The Norwegian has played 36 times in all competitions for the Hoops, scoring twice during this time and also racking up just as many assists.
Benkovic was on loan at Parkhead last season when Brendan Rodgers was in charge of the club. But he went back to play under Rodgers, who is now in charge of his current club Leicester.
During his time at Glasgow, Benkovic played 27 times in all competitions for the Hoops. 19 of those appearances came in the Premiership and he also scored twice, assisting once.
This season at King Power, Benkovic, who is valued at £8.1 million (Transfermarkt), has been short of game time. He has played two times for them and they too came in the League Cup. He has played six times for the club’s Under-23s side.
What do we think?
The Hoops do need another centre-back option, with Jack Hendry not playing. Ajer hasn’t been at his best in recent games and they need a reliable option like Benkovic. He isn’t playing at Leicester and a loan move for him would make a lot of sense in January.