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Wilfried Nancy has been granted permission to open talks with Celtic.
The Columbus Crew head coach will now discuss becoming Brendan Rodgers’ permanent successor with Parkhead powerbroker Dermot Desmond.
There is growing expectation that he’ll be in charge by the time Celtic take on St Mirren next Saturday.
The 48-year-old Frenchman had been coy on the link in recent days but has now been cleared to begin formal negotiations by the MLS club.
The development came as interim boss Martin O’Neill reiterated his willingness to continue to help the club out while stating that he felt that the permanent appointment of an up-and-coming manager would be the best outcome.
Despite never having managed in Europe, Nancy now heads the field in the race for the hot seat.
Wilfried Nancy has been cleared by his club Columbus Crew to open negotiations with Celtic
Celtic powerbroker Dermot Desmond thinks he can capture one of football's emerging talents
Interim Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has reiterated his willingness to continue helping the club
Largely a lower league player in France, he moved to Quebec in 2005 to play for a university side, he became a coach, steadily progressed from amateur level to CF Montreal’s academy and then on to the first team.
Following Thierry Henry’s resignation in 2021, Nancy led the Canadian side to the national championship before being offered the Columbus Crew job.
In Ohio, he went on to win the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024 as well as the MLS Coach of the Year Award.
His current deputy is Kwame Ampadu, who worked with the Parkhead club’s director of football operations, Paul Tisdale, while at Exeter City. It’s believed that Tisdale is pushing for the appointment.
With his side having just gone out of the play-offs, Nancy will be available as soon as Celtic can agree compensation - believed to be between £1m-£2million.
The club’s annual general meeting is on Friday with a return to action coming away to St Mirren on Saturday night.
Nancy’s reputation for playing fast, front-foot football has caught the eye of a number of European clubs with Desmond believing Celtic can capture one of the managerial game’s emerging talents.
Kjetil Knutsen, a four-time title winner with Bodo/Glimt, Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town and Ferencvaros manager Robbie Keane are still in the mix.
