Sources: Ange Postecoglou edges closer to sensational Celtic return
Celtic have Ange Postecoglou on their list of targets to become their next permanent manager, sources have told Football Insider.
The Australian still has strong links with Celtic despite departing back in 2023, and he is currently in the board’s reckoning to potentially take charge of the team in the summer.
Martin O’Neill is in charge of Celtic on an interim basis until the end of the season, and sources say that the Bhoys are hoping to take their time with their next appointment to ensure they can assess every possible candidate and avoid repeating previous mistakes.
The Glasgow giants would not have to pay a compensation fee to another club in order to reunite with their former boss, and as a result, the 60-year-old is seen as a relatively cost-effective option at the moment.
Summer appointment matches Ange Postecoglou’s intentions
Football Insider revealed at the start of December that Postecoglou would rather wait until the end of the season before returning to management, after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest in October.
The controversial boss has been linked with moves to the likes of Leeds United since his eight-game stint at the City Ground was brought to a close, but he has instead been keen to take a break from football.
Postecoglou is likely to be reluctant to accept a new job midway through the season, and would prefer to start a new project with a full pre-season ahead of him and his staff.
That could play perfectly into Celtic’s hands, given that they have already tied O’Neill down as their leader until the summer.
The Bhoys are highly unlikely to make an appointment until the current season has concluded, with several top-level managers set to potentially become available in the coming months.
They will have no shortage of potential candidates to explore before they make their final decision, but Postecoglou is a name that is likely to be firmly in the frame.
What does Postecoglou think about a return to Celtic?
Football Insider revealed in October that Postecoglou would seriously consider a return to Celtic if the opportunity arose to move back to his former club.
The former Tottenham chief was linked with the Celtic job when Brendan Rodgers‘ future came under scrutiny earlier in the campaign, and he is now emerging as a potential option once again.
The Parkhead outfit won two Premiership titles under his guidance between 2021 and 2023, but Postecoglou has since endured a mixed spell in the Premier League.
He has been out of work since he was shown the door at Nottingham Forest, and a move back to Celtic could potentially be in the pipeline.