Celtic are in pursuit of their next permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers

Celtic have been backed to have the tools to lure in leading manager target Wilfried Nancy, and one major call could come as a surprise to fans.

Following the departure of Brendan Rodgers, the Parkhead chiefs are focusing on getting their next appointment right. Nancy, who is currently the head coach of MLS outfit Columbus Crew, is one of the leading candidates on the radar right now.

ESPN commentator and former USA international Herculez Gomez has delved into what makes the 48-year-old coach such an interesting target, and why he feels Celtic could be a tempting offer for him.

Celtic target Wilfried Nancy enjoying ‘meteoric rise’

Nancy made history in 2023 when he became the first black head coach to win the MLS Cup after Columbus Crew beat reigning champions Los Angeles FC in the final.

His achievement has put him on the map of many and Gomez touched on Nancy’s brand of football and how that has helped him find success with the Ohio outfit.

“He has an idea of how he wants to play, it's very brave, it's very nuanced,” Gomez told BBC Scotland. “It's very New Age, modern football, if you will, but in a crazy, mad scientist way.

“That's who he's been from day one, and it's really gone well. I say meteoric rise because 2021 is when he got his first professional stint as a manager, and since then, he's collected a few titles. Canadian Championship, MLS Leagues Cup, MLS Cup.

“He was the first black head coach in the history of Major League Soccer to win a title. They'd never had a black coach lift the MLS Cup, and he did it with a certain type of brand, and I guess the best way to describe him is he's brave in his football.

“Speak to his players and they'll say the result is secondary. Secondary because he wants to implement the brand first, and the rest follows.”

‘Not a surprise’ Celtic are chasing Wilfried Nancy

Gomez believes Celtic’s ability to spend money will be nothing like what Nancy has experienced at Columbus or his previous club CF Montreal.

This will likely come as a surprise to Hoops fans, who had criticised the club’s approach to their transfer business during the summer window.

Chief Executive Michael Nicholson recently ‘acknowledged the failings’ of the last transfer window and has ‘promised a review of how Celtic conduct their business.

Gomez continued: “Celtic is a massive club, a massive brand. Nowhere that he's been, Montreal or Columbus, has he had the wallet that he would have at Celtic.

“So, to pick and choose the elements you want may be beneficial to him, may suit his brand, but it's a culture shock. It's definitely a shock the way he wants to play.

“The first time I saw his team, I was a bit amused. The goalkeeper has to play high off his line, be good with his feet. The centre-backs have to be very good with the ball, often find themselves in advanced positions.

“The wing-backs are very much like we saw in the Xabi Alonso Leverkusen years, where they're going to be prime attackers, and maybe goal scorers and facilitators.

“There's a lot of creativity, free flow. I'm not surprised that a team like Celtic is looking at him. If it's not Celtic, it'll be another team, that's for sure.”