Celtic are being made to sweat over Eddie Howe after the in-demand manager’s camp insisted a deal to take him to Parkhead was still way off.
The Hoops had hoped to have the former Bournemouth boss on board this week with a view to taking charge of the side for next season.
But Howe’s representatives are playing hardball and insisting nothing has been agreed as yet and talk of a move already being in place has been branded extremely premature.
Celtic are hoping to persuade the 43-year-old to Parkhead but they face a fight for his services – with Crystal Palace still a possible option and Newcastle United also strongly linked.
A representative for Howe told Sky Sports: “There has been significant interest in Eddie from a number of clubs. However, talks of any deal being close are extremely premature. His plan remains to not return to management until the summer at the earliest.”
Record Sport understands the negotiations have hit several stumbling blocks over Howe’s hopes to have his own backroom team alongside him, as well as Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes brought in as director of football.
Celtic are currently going through a revamp behind the scenes with Dominic McKay bringing forward his arrival as chief executive three months with the former rugby boss now due to check in next week.
The Hoops had hoped speeding up the restructuring could push along the bid to land their no.1 managerial target.
