Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has warned his old club not to put all their eggs in the Eddie Howe basket.
The former Bournemouth boss is set to be named as Neil Lennon 's permanent replacement, having emerged as the number one target.
A deal is believed to be on the verge of completion, but Strachan believes there's still time for another club to swoop in and take Howe away.
And the former Scotland boss has told Celtic to have a range of back-up options in case their main man is tempted elsewhere.
Strachan said on Premier Sports: "Do I think he's a good manager? Absolutely.
"The job he did at Bournemouth was fantastic, then he got them to the Premier League, stabilised them there.
"He had a bit of a problem last year but that can happen, every manager has a bad year - I can testify to that!
"Knowing Eddie he goes away and starts learning again.
"I like what he did with his team over the last three or four years, the team understood how to move into different positions, play different systems, the emphasis being on being able to pass the ball and be intelligent with it.
"But I'd like to think Celtic will not be putting all their eggs in the one basket.
"That would be very silly, I'm sure they're speaking to other people out there because if conversations go on over two or three weeks it could change.
"Positions can change, everything could change.
"There could be other clubs involved. So I like to think, and they are clever enough, that the board will be looking at other options, and there are other good options out there as well.
"One thing's for sure: whoever they pick will get the opportunity to work at an incredibly good club."
Howe has spent almost the entirety of his coaching career at Bournemouth, and Celtic would represent a massive step up.
And Strachan has warned that nothing can prepare you for managing at Parkhead.
He said: "Whatever you think you know about a football club, however well-prepared you think you are, you can forget it.
"Once you turn up here, the first time you lose a corner kick all hell breaks loose!"
