Celtic closing in on new manager with club sources confident he'll be in place by next week

Wilfried Nancy is edging closer to being appointed Celtic manager, with talks between him and the club now at an advanced stage.

The 48-year-old Frenchman, currently head coach of MLS side Columbus Crew, has been in negotiations with the Scottish champions since last week.

While the fine detail has still to be agreed, Celtic sources are increasingly confident that Nancy will sign a deal and be unveiled as their new boss early next week.

Celtic will have to pay compensation to Columbus Crew and are thought to be in discussions with Nancy’s preferred backroom team, which is likely to include a coach familiar with Scottish football.

In the meantime, interim manager Martin O’Neill and assistant Shaun Maloney are expected to continue holding the fort for Thursday’s Europa League clash away to Feyenoord and the Premiership game against Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.

If all goes to plan, Nancy could start his tenure as Celtic boss with three straight home games, the first of which would be against Dundee next Wednesday.