Scouts deployed: Celtic gear up goalscoring defender pursuit after failed summer talks – reports
By Danny Wright
Celtic have geared up their pursuit of Dinamo Zagreb centre-back Filip Benkovic, according to a report.
The Scottish Sun claims that Brendan Rodgers is desperate to add reinforcements to his defence after he has been handed multiple selection issues this season due to injuries and has set his sights on the Dinamo stopper once more ahead of January.
Croatian outlet 100 Posto claimed in the summer that the Hoops hierarchy jetted out to the Balkans nation to hold negotiations with Benkovic, 20, but after the transfer window slammed shut without success, it appeared that the talks had failed.
The Scottish Sun had previously reported that Celtic wanted Benkovic last January, but a whopping £17million price-tag put them out of the running to sign the Croatia Under-21 international.
It is now understood that Celtic had deployed their scouts to watch the defender when he scored an 89th minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Hadjuk Split at the weekend.
The latest report claims that the Hoops would still have to “dig deep” to land the centre-back after he penned a five-year deal with Dinamo earlier this year.
Benkovic has been in stunning form in the Croatian top-flight this term, scoring three goals in 10 league appearances earning the tag of a goalscoring defender.
Football Insider Verdict
Celtic need a new centre-back in January otherwise they run a massive risk of losing their unbeaten domestic streak. The Hoops have had plenty of injury woes in defence with all of their centre-backs suffering injuries in the early phases of this season leading to Mikael Lustig, Nir Bitton, Kieran Tierney and Kristoffer Ajer all being called upon to play out of position at times. The failed move for Rivaldo Coetzee in the summer did not help matters as it seemed that Rodgers put all his eggs in one basket with the swoop for the South Africa international. Benkovic looks like a top talent but his price-tag puts him well out of Celtic’s market. They should instead look at more realistic, affordable options.
In other Celtic news, Derek McInnes has issued a stern warning to the Hoops ahead of their clash with Aberdeen on Wednesday.
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