It's the manager race that has had the bookies changing the odds by the day.
Dermot Desmond is on the hunt for a Celtic manager capable of mounting an instant comeback after a season to forget.
Resurgent Rangers raced to the earliest Premiership title victory in history and now their great rivals must respond.
But this goes way beyond city bragging rights with the chance to secure an automatic Champions League group stage spot next season.
There's a growing belief Celtic are thinking box office - much like they did back in 2016 when they convinced Brendan Rodgers to head to Glasgow.
Record Sport's writers have made their picks on who they believe should earn the chance to right some wrongs.
Enzo Maresca (Keith Jackson)
Everyone and their auntie has been linked with the post but just because someone said it on the internet doesn’t make it true.
Of them all, the name of Enzo Maresca is probably the most intriguing and the Man City coach has certainly been considered as a serious candidate. But Celtic may have something else up their sleeve so, for the time being, it feels like an exercise in futility to rank a list of others who may or may not even be in the running. Let’s wait and see what Celtic come up with. It may just come as a surprise.
Sean Dyche (Craig Swan)
The Burnley manager has done a sensational job at Turf Moor. To maintain the club’s position in the top flight of English football on a shoestring budget has been remarkable and he’s also taken Europa League football to the club.
Dyche has the experience and is a good age at 49. Crystal Palace could be his destination if he opts to leave Burnley after nine years and Celtic should try to take advantage of the fact he’s been snubbed by bigger teams in his homeland before now.
Enzo Maresca (David McCarthy)
If Celtic go for the Manchester City U23 coach, it’s a gamble. Then again, if they went for a bigger name - a Keane, Howe, Lampard - it’s no less of a gamble.
Across the city, Steven Gerrard has proved that if given time, going into one half of the Old Firm as a rookie boss can be a success.
If Celtic are going to appoint Manchester City’s Fergal Harkin as director of football, it makes sense then to go for a manager who has already worked with him as that relationship is probably the most vital at any club.
Maresca has built a strong reputation as a coach and a developer of young talent. Celtic have to get away from the same old, same old and won’t be able to attract a Jesse Marsch-type when he has Bundesliga outfits queuing up to take him.
So, Maresca is worth a punt. But that’s what it will be.
Rafa Benitez (Scott Burns)
I know there would be major financial hurdles to Celtic landing the former Liverpool manager but he is the sort of target they should be aiming for. He is a well-respected and experienced manager who has delivered both success domestically and on the European stage.
If there was a glimmer of hope I would throw everything at Benitez because he could make a similar impact to the one Brendan Rodgers made. It would be a box office appointment.
Eddie Howe (Gavin Berry)
The former Bournemouth man just seems like the perfect fit. He’s young, available, his philosophy is based around keeping possession on playing attractive football which Celtic fans demand and he has proven himself in the Premier League.
He also handles the media well and in his managerial career path was similar to Brendan Rodgers’ before he took the Liverpool job. Howe is now ready to have a crack at a big club and Parkhead is the ideal destination.
Jesse Marsch (Gordon Parks)
The ideas of Marsch sound very interesting indeed and he should top the candidates list. Speculation has cooled since his glowing Celtic verdict but this studious operator isn’t the type to be handing out compliments on a whim.
His teams play open, expansive football and he has been earmarked for a career in the Bundesliga once his time with Salzburg reaches his natural conclusion.
His schooling screams German efficiency after learning the game from revered visionary Ralf Rangnick but this American might see the box office appeal of going against Steven Gerrard in Glasgow.
There’s a belief Celtic should be looking for the next Marsch before he ascends but it would be foolish not to make a move for the real deal.
Scott Parker (Graeme Young)
The former England international looked to be nearing the Fulham exit door after his very public sparring match back in August.
But something magical happened as the 40-year-old managed to plug his leaky defence and get his side moving in the right direction after a wretched start to their Premier League return.
Parker is a deep thinker and his team always look fully prepared every time they step on the pitch.
The 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield was a watershed result but that type of victory was on the cards. It looks a straight shootout between Fulham and Newcastle for survival and keeping the Cottagers up will rightly lead to opportunities elsewhere.
Parker is articulate, forward thinking and his team play an attractive brand of football. What more do you want?
