Report: Crystal Palace could steal Celtic’s manager target; 43-year-old in tug-of-war

Celtic face competition from Crystal Palace in the race to hire former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, as reported by the Daily Mail. 

It’s not often a manager who suffered relegation during his final game in the dugout is in such high demand. 

But it speaks volumes about the work Howe did at Bournemouth, the miracles he spun on the South Coast, that this 43-year-old footballing obsessive remains a man with so many options on the table.

The Mail reports Celtic are keen to bring Howe north of the border as Neil Lennon’s successor.

A young, likeable and forward-thinking coach, the Cherries legend shares a few things in common with a 2016-era Brendan Rodgers. Not least because of his ability to improve players beyond all recognition while sticking like superglue to an attractive, attacking style of football. 

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Celtic still have a number of hurdles to clear in their pursuit of Howe, however, with club and coach seemingly harbouring differing views about the director of football situation (Athletic).

And, according to the Daily Mail, an ongoing impasse may have opened the door for Crystal Palace to make their move. 

Roy Hodgson, the oldest manager in Premier League history, is out of contract this summer and Howe has joined the likes of Frank Lampard, Steve Cooper, Chris Wilder and Paulo Fonseca on a lengthy hit-list.   

Howe would certainly be a popular appointment among the Selhurst Park fanbase, promising to introduce a pleasing style of football at odds with Hodgson’s well-drilled, two banks of four-style pragmatism. 

Then again, would Howe rather mill around mid-table with Palace or fight for silverware while embarking on European adventures at Celtic? 

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