Celtic look to have missed out on signing Filip Benkovic with the defender set to join Belgian side OH Leuven.
With Chris Jullien facing three or four months out of action after suffering knee ligament damage against Dundee United bringing in a new central defender is the priority during the January transfer window.
At a media conference today John Kennedy admitted that Benkovic was one of the names under consideration but it seems that Celtic have lost out to Leuven.
The Daily Mail reports:
Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic is joining Belgian side OH Leuven on a season loan. The 23-year-old returned from a loan spell with Cardiff City last week and had been discussed as an option by Scottish champions Celtic. Benkovic previously had a loan spell at Celtic in the 2018-19 season.
Leicester have a relationship with Leuven that has seen former manager Nigel Pearson enjoy a spell in charge.
After loans at Celtic, Bristol City and Cardiff City it looks like Leicester and the player have decided that a move away from the UK would be beneficial for his development.
Celtic do have Shane Duffy to step in to Jullien’s place but his form has been erratic since joining on loan from Brighton at the start of September.
With Nir Bitton suspended for Monday’s match against Hibs Neil Lennon is likely to have Stephen Welsh or Hatem Abd Elhamed in his thoughts.