Mills: Celtic target Howe eyeing up Newcastle job after holding talks with Premier League club

Danny Mills has suggested Eddie Howe has not formally agreed to become the next Celtic manager as he is waiting for the Newcastle United job.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-England and Manchester City defender suggested Howe will assess all his options including both Celtic and Newcastle before making a decision.

Football Insider revealed at the beginning of the month the 43-year-old had reached a verbal agreement with Celtic's principal shareholder Dermot Desmond about taking over at Parkhead.

However, the club are increasing anxious he is having second thoughts as he has not accepted their "wonderful" offer.

This site understands Howe has also been sounded out by Premier League club Crystal Palace with incumbent manager Roy Hodgson's contract up at the end of the campaign.

Sky Sports report the ex-Bournemouth boss will wait until the summer before returning to management.

Palace's league rivals Newcastle United are increasing hopeful that the proposed Saudi-backed takeover can still be completed.

And Mills has claimed Howe will have an eye on the situation in the north-east.

He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “He may be just waiting to see what other jobs he gets offered.

“He might be thinking ‘If Newcastle stay up, does the Newcastle job become available? Is that on offer?’ 

“That’s a big club, new owners potentially and a big budget.

“Only Eddie Howe will know what he wants to do next, unfortunately.”

Howe told Sky Sports' Monday Night Football back in November he would not return to football "just for the sake of it".

He added: "I wanted to learn and develop my knowledge and abilities as a manager, and then if I decide down the line to get back in, or I am lucky enough to be given an opportunity, then I'll do that."

In other news, Celtic are in talks to sign a striker with a six-figure fee in line to be paid.