Celtic want option to buy Filip Benkovic in any loan deal

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Celtic are officially in talks with Leicester City to secure Filip Benkovic.

Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph has claimed that Celtic would be able to take the Croat centre-back on loan, or permanently at the right price.

Benkovic spent the 18-19 season on loan with the Bhoys. He made 27 appearances, and left an impression on manager Neil Lennon.

Earlier today, we shared the news that a source close to Benkovic confirmed that no bid had been made yet. Now, however, it’s clear that Neil Lennon wants the ex-Cardiff City and Dinamo Zagreb man back (Transfermarkt).

Benkovic is a potentially exciting signing, but do Celtic lack imagination?

Filip Benkovic has had a rough time of it since leaving Parkhead.

As it stands, he’s nowhere near Brendan Rodgers’ first-team, with Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana preferred. Behind them, the likes of Caglar Söyüncü and Wes Morgan represent more experienced options for the Foxes.

It feels a little bit like we’re taking the crumbs from Brendan Rodgers’ table, and he knows it. The former Celtic boss went as far as to say (Glasgow Times):

“It’s certainly a possibility. It’s a huge club and he did very well there. We haven’t had any contact but he’s back now and we will see what happens.

“Celtic would be a great move for him. He’s at the age where he really needs to be playing and that didn’t quite materialise at Cardiff.”

As my colleague John McGinley discussed earlier, it’s worrying that Celtic’s two top reported targets are ex-players who have floundered post-Parkhead. Benkovic and Patrick Roberts were good for the Bhoys, but their careers haven’t progressed since then.

We’d love for Benkovic to prove us wrong. Either way, it feels a bit panicky for a club the size of Celtic.