Leicester City defender Filip Benkovic has joined Belgian side OH Leuven on loan for the rest of the season. The Jupiler Pro League side, who are the Foxes’ sister club, also signed former Leicester man Andy King earlier in the window.
Filip Benkovic Leaves Leicester City on Loan
Fourth Loan Spell
This temporary move to Belgium is now Benkovic’s fourth loan move away from Leicester since joining from Dinamo Zagreb in 2018.
The Croatian has spent time at Celtic, Bristol City and Cardiff City. He played 27 times for Celtic, helping them to the Scottish Premiership title in 2018/19, and scored twice in ten games for Bristol City at the start of 2020.
He spent the first half of this season with Neil Harris’ Cardiff but was recalled before being sent out again to Leuven.
Leuven are currently fourth in the Belgian top-flight ahead of their game against Sint-Truden this weekend.
No Celtic Return
It had been reported earlier in the window that Benkovic was going to return to Celtic on loan for the second half of the season.
The Croatian is yet to make his Premier League debut for the Foxes and does not appear to be in Brendan Rodgers’ plans at the moment.
Despite talks with Celtic, a move never materialised, and a move to Leuven, who are owned by Leicester’s owners King Power, could mean it is easier for the Foxes to monitor his progress.
The new deal awarded to Jonny Evans struck a further blow to Benkovic’s hopes of making the first-team at Leicester under Brendan Rodgers.
With four loans now clocked up and no sign of Premier League football to come any time soon for the 23-year-old, Leciester could have a decision to make on Benkovic’s future when summer comes around.
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