Ally McCoist comments on Celtic pair Benkovic and Boyata

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Celtic will be hoping to hold onto Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic during the January transfer window.

Ally McCoist told BT Sport’s pre-match coverage of Celtic’s clash with Hamilton (24/11 from 12:00 pm) that it is great news for the Hoops that Filip Benkovic looks set to stay beyond January, but added that he could see Dedryck Boyata leaving in the winter.

Benkovic has been a revelation since coming into the Bhoys’ side. He has made 10 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ men and they have kept eight clean sheets in that run.

Leicestershire Live reports that his parent club Leicester have the option to recall him in January, but Claude Puel has recently suggested that in an ideal world, Benkovic would see out the campaign at Parkhead.

And McCoist feels that Benkovic staying is fantastic news for the Scottish Premiership champions, especially after the recent reports from the Daily Mail which have suggested that Fulham want to sign Boyata when the window opens.

“Listen, that’s good news for Celtic and Brendan,” he told BT Sport, when asked about Puel’s comments on Benkovic. “There’s absolutely no doubt about that.

“I think it is good as we don’t know what’s going to happen with Boyata in the window. I think there’s a better than average chance that if they get a reasonable offer, an acceptable offer, I think he will go.”

With Boyata’s contract expiring in the summer, it may be a sensible move for Celtic to cash in if they get a good offer. Although the Belgian has been excellent, his form has not always been so impressive, and losing him for nothing at the end of the season would be a big disappointment.

Having said that, keeping the pair beyond January will be a huge boost to the Hoops’ hopes of maintaining their domestic dominance – and perhaps their chances of progressing in Europe – and replacing either would be an extremely tough task for Rodgers.