Middlesbrough hopes of loan deal for Leicester outcast Filip Benkovic hinge on Foxes finding a senior centre-back before the transfer window slams shut
- Filip Benkovic will join Middlesbrough from Leicester if the Foxes sign a defender
- Boro boss Jonathan Woodgate is in pole position to capture the Croatian on loan
- Benkovic has made one appearance since joining from Dinamo Zagreb in 2018
- Leicester will sanction the switch should they recruit a replacement centre-back
Leicester defender Filip Benkovic is poised to join Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the season as long as the Foxes can sign a centre-back before the transfer window closes on Friday.
Boro are thought to be leading the race for Benkovic, who joined Leicester from Dinamo Zagreb for £13million in 2018 but is yet to make a Premier League appearance for the club.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers will not sanction Benkovic’s departure until another senior central defender arrives to compete with Jonny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu and Wes Morgan.
Centre-back Filip Benkovic is yet to make an appearance for Leicester in the Premier League
The 22-year-old signed a five-year contract when the Foxes paid Dinamo Zagreb £13m for him
Soyuncu and Morgan were chosen at the heart of the back four for Leicester’s FA Cup tie at Brentford, which they won 1-0 to move into the fifth round.
Evans is expected to regain his place alongside Soyuncu for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Aston Villa after the Northern Irishman was rested at Griffin Park.
Benkovic could switch to Championship Middlesbrough after a loan spell with Celtic in 2018
Brendan Rodgers wants another centre-back to offer competition to the likes of Jonny Evans
Leicester know a victory will mean their first major Wembley Final for 20 years after they drew 1-1 in the first leg at King Power Stadium.
They hope Jamie Vardy will he fit enough to take part after the forward damaged a glute in last week’s 4-1 win over West Ham.