Middlesbrough look set to sign Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic on loan providing the condition that the Foxes bring in a new central-defender prior to the closure of the transfer window.
It’s understood that Jonathan Woodgate’s side are the front-runners for the Croatian defenders signature. Boro have had more than their fair share of injury problems this season, particularly at centre-back and after their talks regarding bringing Ben Gibson back to the club this month appear to have led nowhere – Benkovic seems a suitable alternative.
Signed from Dinamo Zagreb for £13m in the summer of 2018 (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk), the 22-year-old is yet to make a Premier League appearance for the Foxes.
However, Brendan Rodgers appears keen to get the central-defender playing regular football and in Jonathan Woodgate, Benkovic will have a young, up and coming coach with a vast array of experience of playing in his position.
Would you like to see Benkovic at Middlesbrough?
Yes
No
TIF Tactics – A short-term solution
Middlesbrough have received an injury boost in defence with the return of George Friend and Ryan Shotton to training but the pair are unlikely to be ready for first-team football for at least another two or three weeks – that’s according to Woodgate.
The Teeside club currently find themselves in 17th place, but whilst there appears to be no immediate danger of relegation, Benkovic would certainly help to ease any potential fears anyone at the club may have.
However, it would seem that only a temporary switch could be on the cards and whilst that may work for the Riverside Stadium outfit as an immediate fix, they could find themselves having a problem in the future.