Brendan Rodgers explained at Celtic’s AGM that Filip Benkovic will return to Leicester City in the summer.
The manager even mentioned that there is a possibility Benkovic may return in January instead.
When asked by a shareholder on the future of the Croatian, Rodgers was honest about his chances of keeping the defender.
Although Rodgers stated he wanted to keep Benkovic, he made it clear it was unlikely he would be successful.
As reported by the Leicester Mercury, the manager said: “He is a big talent but like a lot of these players he wants to play in the Premier League.
“He’s happy here at a big club but Leicester sent him up here for a reason.
“That’s to get experience to play in the Premier League next year.”
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This may have been expected by most Celtic fans, but it will still come as a blow.
Leicester were unlikely to sell their £13m summer signing a year later because of a successful loan spell.
It is more likely they will be the beneficiaries of Celtic developing another superb young talent.
The future of Dedryck Boyata is still uncertain as well, although Rodgers did state he was hopeful of keeping the Belgian defender.
This means that Celtic will have to be very active in the January transfer window, securing at least one defender.
There is also the possibility Leicester recall their summer signing.
That’s something Celtic fans cannot afford to think about at the moment, with the defender being in superb form for the club.
Worst case scenario
Celtic need to enjoy the services of their Croatian stopper while they can.
Benkovic was always signed as a quick fix. A panic signing to stop the fans crying blue murder after the summer of inactivity from the Celtic board.
His class has shone through, and he is now Celtic’s first choice defender alongside Boyata.
There’s a possibility Celtic will go into February without both Benkovic and Boyata.
If that happens, and Celtic do nothing about it, there may be hell to pay for those in charge.