Celtic reportedly scouted Filip Benkovic for Dinamo Zagreb but former Manchester United prospect Angelo Henriquez shone too.
Celtic sent scouts to watch Dinamo Zagreb’s 2-2 draw with Hajduk Split in Croatia at the weekend. And, according to the Scottish Sun, 20-year-old Zagreb centre-back Filip Benkovic was the reason for their trip.
Benkovic, who replaced Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic at the Croatian giants following the defender’s 2015 move to Scotland, has been on The Hoops’ radar for some time. The report claims that Celtic have been interested since as far back as January but, with after the defender inked a new four-year contract with Zagreb, they baulked at his £17 million price tag.
With Benkovic netting a last-gasp equaliser in front of Celtic’s scouts, however, with the Scottish champions attempt to haggle down the centre-half’s price-tag in January? Though the other name on the scoresheet for Zagreb should perhaps also be on Celtic’s radar.
Second chance?
Angelo Henriquez netted his fourth goal in six league starts in 2017/18 on Saturday and already looks on track for his most effective season with the Croatian club.
Henriquez scored just 13 goals in his first two seasons after signing permanently in 2015. He did hit 30 in 37 games during a productive loan spell the season before, however.
But would Celtic be interested in handing the 23-year-old Chilean international a second chance on English shores? Manchester United paid £4 million to sign a teenage Henriquez from Universidad de Chile in 2012 (MEN) after he netted 15 goals in 27 games during the 2012 season.
Henriquez, however, never played a competetive game for United and also failed to make an impression during an ill-fated loan spell with Wigan Athletic.
Though with PSG loanee Odsonne Edouard struggling to make an impression at Celtic, and doubts surrounding the future of Moussa Dembele beyond this season, the Scottish champions may soon be forced to look for a striker.
You wonder whether Henriquez has made a lasting impression.
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