Our View: The door has been opened for Celtic to make a move for Filip Benkovic

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If Celtic are ever going to rekindle a relationship with defender Filip Benkovic then this looks the week to do it in.

Benkovic spent the 2018/19 season at Celtic Park and, although he had his fitness issues, proved to be a capable and impressive centre-back.

Returning to Leicester City with the intent to break into the first-team, he hasn’t managed to do that despite having a big supporter in the dugout.

It was Brendan Rodgers who utilised Benkovic most in Glasgow, installing him as a first-choice pick in the position during the first half of last season and starting him in important fixtures such as the League Cup Final.

At the Foxes, however, he’s managed to make just one senior appearance this season, which came in an FA Cup match this month.

Now it looks like Rodgers is ready to sanction a loan exit

On Saturday, he told The Leicester Mercury about a potential exit, saying: “We’re hopeful that will be sooner rather than later, over the next few days if we can bring in a centre half then that will give him a chance to get out.

“He definitely needs the games and we’re hoping that will take place.”

Benkovic signed for Leicester for a reported £13m fee back in 2018 (Sky Sports) so a loan would appear the most cost-effective way to bring the Croatian back to Glasgow, where defensive reinforcements are needed in the final week of the transfer window.

The Mercury reports that Celtic joined the race to re-sign Benkovic last week, with Derby and Bristol City also keen.

Defensive depth needed

Over the next four months, Celtic have to prepare to go to war on the football pitch.

Fixtures are already coming thick and fast with Neil Lennon’s Bhoys on a week to mid-week schedule for the foreseeable future.

We currently have three first-team defenders in Christopher Jullien, Kristoffer Ajer and Jozo Simunovic. Some may argue that’s enough.

However, with the manager opting to play a back three in recent matches and yesterday’s pairing looking a little shaky against Ross County, we really need one more quality addition to the position to increase depth and competition.

Bringing in a physically imposing centre-back on loan like Benkovic, who is 6ft 4in tall, that can also play comfortably with the ball at his feet would be a decent short-term solution.

With his situation also not improving at Leicester, another spell at Celtic could also prove to be the catalyst we need to put together some sort of permanent package for the player if he stays injury-free and contributes to our season.

Whether it’s Benkovic or another, this is a critical week in the transfer window for Celtic and I’d feel a lot happier coming out of it with a strong defender signed up to the cause.