Celtic-linked Jens Berthel Askou is the frontrunner to be the next manager of Toulouse, it is being reported.
The Motherwell boss has turned heads throughout Scotland this season by overachieving with a dominant brand of football, and he is evidently now doing the same throughout Europe.
Askou has been widely tipped for a move to Celtic, currently sitting as the bookmakers’ favourite for the role.
But if he is to be the Parkhead hierarchy’s chosen man, the Hoops may need to fend off competition.
Would you take Jens Berthel Askou in the event that Martin O’Neill leaves Celtic in the summer?
Celtic ‘weighing up’ rival bid for Toulouse-linked Jens Berthel Askou
According to The Herald, Askou has leapt to the top of the list of candidates to replace Carles Martinez Novell at the Ligue 1 club.
The Scottish Sun report that Celtic are weighing up a move to rival Toulouse in the race for his signature.
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Toulouse currently sit 10th in the French top-flight, and were guided into Europe by Martinez Novell in 2023, when they defeated Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
They are one of the most data-driven clubs in Europe, using an exclusive data model similar to that of Tony Bloom at Brighton and Hearts.
Without wishing to offend any residents of Motherwell, the city would certainly be an upgrade for Askou in terms of scenery.
He has been widely tipped for the Parkhead vacancy by pundits and journalists alike. Of course, he is about to face the Hoops in a crucial title-race fixture at Fir Park.
Speaking on Off The Ball about his expected candidate, BBC man Tom English firmly believes that Askou is the favourite for the Parkhead role.
He said: “I think there is one pretty obvious staring them in the face domestically, and that is Jens Berthel Askou, the Motherwell manager.
I want the next manager of Celtic to be…
“He has performed wonders with this Motherwell team. He hasn’t signed many players, but he’s signed brilliantly.
“And the players that he inherited… he’s improved them dramatically. I’m friendly with a number in the BBC- there’s quite a few Motherwell fans in there – of different vintages.
“And they say they have never seen a Motherwell team play the quality kind of football Jens Berthel Askou has got them playing right now.
“They’re the best footballing team in Scotland, Motherwell. They play lovely stuff, it’s incredible, really. On a budget of tuppence ha’penny.
“This guy is getting this team to play fantastic football, and if Celtic were playing the kind of football that Motherwell are playing, Celtic fans would be happy.
“So, Berthel Askou with a bigger budget, bigger opportunity to build, better quality of player… for me, it’s a no-brainer.”
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