Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says that he wants to sign Filip Benkovic on loan from Leicester City on transfer deadline day.
According to Sky Sports, the Glasgow giants are close to agreeing a season-long loan deal with Premier League side Leicester for Benkovic.
The 21-year-old central defender moved to the Foxes from Dinamo Zagreb earlier this summer for a transfer fee reported by Sky Sports to be worth £13 million.
Celtic boss Rodgers has praised the Croatia Under-21 international, and the former Liverpool manager has also suggested that the Hoops are close to finalising a loan deal for the youngster.
The former Swansea City manager also also suggested that Celtic will not sell star striker Moussa Dembele on transfer deadline day.
Rodgers told Sky Sports about Benkovic: “I am not sure if it is totally confirmed yet. He is one that we were interested in.
“He is a young guy that is coming with a bright future at Leicester but we will take him here on loan hopefully and develop his game.
“He is a big threat in both boxes – a big presence, can attack the ball well. That is something I think the team needs.”
The Celtic boss told BBC Sport about Dembele: “We don’t want Moussa to go and I can’t see it happening.”
Good decisions from Celtic
Dembele is arguably the best striker at Celtic at the moment, and it would make perfect sense for the Glasgow giants to keep hold of the Frenchman.
As for Benkovic, the Croatian is a very talented and promising young central defender who will make the Hoops better in that department.
The Scottish Premiership side have struggled defensively so far this season, and they do need a new central defender.
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