Chris Sutton's exciting Eddie Howe to Celtic claim - could already be a done deal

By John McGinley

May 1, 2021

Chris Sutton reckons the Eddie Howe move to Celtic could already have been completed in the background.

The Howe rumours have been rumbling on for months now. It’s been weeks since the first report of an agreement being reached in principle after a London meeting with prominent Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond. [Scottish Sun]

That’s caused some anxiety for supporters.

However, recent reporting has suggested that Howe has been quietly working away in the background putting the finishing touches to his coaching staff.

Sutton reckons it’s a sign that Howe is surely on his way to Paradise.

Writing in his Daily Record column today, he explained: “You have to hope they are just waiting to get the final games out of the way before announcing No.1 choice Eddie Howe as the new gaffer to give him a clean slate and that he is already working away on his plans and squad ideas for next season.

“I would not be in the slightest bit surprised if that is happening because, in all honesty, Celtic surely can’t still be fiddling around trying to sort out a new manager.

“Surely it’s all been done in the background and it’s now just all about the timing of the announcement. If it’s not and they really are still on a manhunt, they are in even bigger trouble than I thought.

“That’s really all that is dominating the minds of the punters right now and I don’t blame them.”

Eddie Howe Celtic work can’t start quickly enough

With enormous squad upheaval on the way at Celtic, as well as staff turnover, Howe really can’t get to grips with things at the club quickly enough.

We have to hope that the planning is already well underway for the new era at the Bhoys, or we’ll be playing catch up from the off through the close season and pre-season.

Eddie Howe is closing in on the Celtic job / (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

There are less than 12 weeks to go until Celtic’s first competitive game of 2021/22. It’ll be a tough encounter against a good European side in Champions League qualifying.

Howe needs to hit the ground running, so do Celtic.

Likely Sutton says, surely we are not exposing ourselves to a slow start next term?

In other news, Dominic McKay’s first visit to Lennoxtown.