Can Filip Benkovic continue following in Virgil van Dijk’s footsteps?

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In the summer, Leicester City completed the signature of Croatian defender Filip Benkovic. As reported by the BBC, the Foxes spent £13 million bringing the player in from Dinamo Zagreb.

However, his was a move for the future and he was eventually sent out on loan to Celtic.

It has been a successful move so far. Benkovic has been excellent for Celtic since his arrival at Parkhead and yesterday helped the Bhoys win the Scottish League Cup final.

Comparisons are already being made between the Leicester man and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.

It is something the 21-year-old takes great pride in, as he considers the Dutchman as the ‘best centre-back in the world’.

So do Leicester have a potential £75 million defender on their hands?

That is the fee that made Van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world when he left Southampton for Anfield.

“When people compare me to Van Dijk it makes me proud…

“…I remember Van Dijk playing for Celtic. In Croatia they show a lot of Celtic games and I watched him on there and on Youtube. In two years here, he progressed a lot. For me, he’s now the best defender in the world.”

– Benkovic on Van Dijk

Benkovic is a similar build but also possesses much of the other qualities which set Van Dijk apart. Calm on the ball and deceptively quick, he certainly does have similarities with the Dutchman.

The same similarities are shared by Harry Maguire, the player Benkovic is one day expected to replace if the England international makes a move away from the club.

Leicester will hope this Celtic experience continues to help their talented summer signing grow.