Leicester Outcast Filip Benkovic Could Be Loaned to Derby County in January

​Derby County will give Phillip Cocu adequate funding during the January transfer window, and have launched a loan bid for Leicester City's Filip Benkovic on loan.

Despite the Rams dropping to 17th position in the Championship following their 3-0 loss at Reading on Saturday, the board have decided to show faith in the coach. They have sympathy for Cocu after a number of injuries to key players this term, as well as a difficult beginning to his role as Derby manager.

Brendan Rodgers - Soccer Manager

The Telegraph write that the Rams have given the 49-year-old their full support, regardless of the team's wayward form in recent months, and a bid for Benkovic has been made.

He joined Leicester in 2018, switching from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee £13m, but it appears Brendan Rodgers has already identified the 22-year-old's replacement, with the Foxes looking to land Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, who could cost as much as £34m.

At present, Rodgers doesn't believe Benkovic can genuinely compete for a starting spot in the team, whereas Rugani would put plenty of pressure on first-choice pairing Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans.

It's understood Cocu wants to bring in a new centre-back to shore up his defence, and ​Leicester will allow Benkovic to leave on a temporary basis next month, making him the ideal option for the boss.

The Croatian defender - who is still awaiting his first ​Premier League appearance for the Foxes - could be one of three arrivals in January as ​Derby chiefs prepare to back their manager in the market.

Phillip Cocu

They believe Cocu was always going to face issues this season, having arrived less than a month before the start of the campaign following Frank Lampard's decision to take over at ​Chelsea.

On top of having to cope with a number of injury absentees, the former ​Barcelona midfielder was tasked with keeping the peace at Derby after Rams stars Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett were ​arrested for drink driving in September.


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Source : 90min