Eddie Howe is reportedly "seriously interested" in taking the manager's job at Celtic.
The former Bournemouth boss has been heavily linked with the vacancy as the Parkhead club hunt for a permanent successor to Neil Lennon.
Howe is currently the bookies' odds-on favourite for the role and it's claimed he has conducted background checks on Celtic's structure.
The Scottish Sun report the 43-year-old has dug into his contacts book and checked in with sources close to the club as he considers a return to management.
The former Cherries boss has been out of football since leaving the Vitality Stadium in August last year.
Howe steered Bournemouth from the depths of League One all the way to the Premier League but couldn't stave off relegation in 2020 and decided to walk away.
He has emerged as a popular choice among supporters and securing his signature would rank as a considerable coup for Celtic and incoming CEO Dominic McKay.
Meanwhile, the ongoing rebuild in Glasgow's East End continued on Wednesday as head of football operations Nick Hammond 's departure was announced.
A club statement revealed the transfer guru had quit to "pursue new opportunities".
It's been anticipated Hammond's exit could pave the way for Celtic to appoint a director of football.
