The Hoops are closing in on a new man in charge but it’ll cost big money to land top target Wilfried Nancy
Head coach Wilfried Nancy of the Columbus Crew(Image: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Celtic have been warned they’ll need to stump up serious cash to land manager target Wilfried Nancy.
The Frenchman is high up on the Hoops’ wishlist of potential permanent bosses on the back of the bombshell departure of Brendan Rodgers.
But Record Sport understands the 48-year-old won’t come cheap – with Columbus Crew looking to bag a multi-million dollar compensation package.
Nancy penned a new long-term contract with the MLS outfit in 2024 and while the length of the deal has been kept strictly under wraps, sources Stateside suggest it was over ‘several years’, likely to at least 2027.
The 48-year-old is also one of the highest paid head coaches in the US – where top earners pocket up to $1.5m a year.
Nancy’s Crew no.2 Kwame Ampadu – who has close ties with Celtic head of football operations Paul Tisdale – would also be expected to be part of the package.
Columbus have made several changes behind the scenes since the MLS triumph in 2023 and have been aware of the rising interest in their head coach in recent times.
Crew had to stump up a compensation fee to land Nancy from Montreal in 2022 and made moves in 2024 to insure themselves by tying down the gaffer on an extended contract as they were aware of his ambitions to eventually have a crack at working back in Europe.
Hoops are still considering their options and while Nancy has been offered, several other names remain in the frame.
Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen has been cool on talk of leaving the Norwegians, with contract extension talks in his homeland on the horizon while there’s been no concrete move for in-demand Ipswich Town manager Kevin McKenna.
Robbie Keane also remains on the radar but Ferencvaros are determined to keep their gaffer, with the side flying high in the Europa League and within striking distance of top spot in Hungary.
Hoops chiefs have met with representatives of several managers in London in recent days and are also in discussions with interim boss Martin O’Neill over the potential possibility of remaining in place for after the side returns from the international break at St Mirren next Saturday.
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