Brendan Rodgers has decided to release Filip Benkovic, after the centre-back failed to make an impression at the King Power. Celtic are reportedly ‘on alert’, but Fabrizio Romano has some bad news for the Hoops.
Benkovic, 24, joined Leicester from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2018 for a fee of £13million. But in the three and a half years since then, the one-time Croatia international has managed to play for Leicester twice.
Instead, he has been sent out on loan four times. Cardiff, Bristol City, Celtic and Belgian side OH Leuven. His best form arguably came north of the border at Celtic – an ankle injury ruling him out for 11 more games.
Of course, that saw Rodgers sign Benkovic on loan while at Celtic – then reuniting with the defender at Leicester. But that reunion has not benefited Benkovic, and he now finds himself a free agent – but perhaps, not for long.
The Evening Times say Celtic were ‘on alert’ after hearing of the news that Benkovic had been released. However, any hopes Celtic had of re-signing Benkovic were quickly extinguished, as Romano says he is off to Udinese.
Benkovic released: Do Celtic need Croatian, with Udinese move likely?
Udinese are clearly in the mood for a centre-back. The Serie A side had offers rejected for Celtic defender Stephen Welsh earlier in the window, and Romano reports in the same Tweet that Arsenal’s Pablo Mari is set to join.
That means Celtic have kept Scotland Under-21 star Welsh, while Chris Jullien is finally returning from injury. Elsewhere, Cameron Carter-Vickers is shining on loan and Carl Starfelt is beginning to settle.
Four solid options for two places in the side – which is universally seen as ideal. If an injury crisis does occur, Nir Bitton can drop in as a defender. Signing Benkovic then, was pretty unneeded.
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