Wilfried Nancy to Celtic: One ‘big question mark’ emerges ahead of agreement
Wilfried Nancy is expected to be appointed by Celtic in the coming days as they look to have finally secured a permanent manager.
Martin O’Neill has been in temporary charge of the Hoops, and they currently sit second in the Scottish Premiership, seven points adrift of Hearts with a game in hand.
Celtic face St Mirren on Saturday (22 November), before taking on Feyenoord in the Europa League next Thursday.
O’Neill is expected to be in the dugout for both games, with the Glasgow giants hoping to bring Nancy in before the Hibernian game on 30 November.
Wilfried Nancy facing real test at Celtic
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that there are still question marks surrounding the appointment of Nancy.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that the Frenchman has to show he can succeed in the European games.
Nancy is set to leave his current role as manager of Columbus Crew in the MLS to take the Celtic job.
Wyness added that taking charge of the Glasgow side will be a real test for the 48-year-old.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Martin O’Neill has managed to hold the fort reasonably well. But we saw against FC Midtjylland some of the deficiencies that Celtic still have in terms of matching up in European games these days.
“Whether Wilfried Nancy could manage in Europe, which is really where Celtic’s success has to come, that’s a really big question mark.
“While he might be a bright young manager saying the right things in interviews, it’s a real test when you come into it in Glasgow.”
Wilfried Nancy to raid MLS after Celtic appointment
Meanwhile, Nancy is likely to utilise the MLS market once he takes over at Celtic, sources have told Football Insider.
Ahead of Nancy’s expected appointment at Parkhead, Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi has been linked with Celtic.
Rossi scored 16 goals and picked up five assists in the MLS last season and has previously hinted at a desire to return to Europe.
The 27-year-old spent two seasons with Turkish side Fenerbahce between 2021 and 2023.
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