Celtic look set to miss out on the chance to hire Dan Petrescu with ProSport claiming the former CFR Cluj boss is expected to sign a two-year deal with Romanian high-flyers Sepsi OSK.
Two years after knocking the Hoops out of the Champions League at the qualification stage, it seems the straight-talking 53-year-old is about to leave the Glasgow giants disappointed once again.
ProSport claims Celtic have identified Petrescu as one of the main candidates to replace Neil Lennon at Parkhead.
But the former Chelsea, Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday defender won’t be leading the charge to seize the Premiership title back from Rangers in 2022.
Petrescu is on his way back to Romania after Sepsi OSK offered him a two-year contract.
The former Cluj and Unirea Urziceni boss, who has tasted Liga I glory on four separate occasions as a manager, will be offered a sizeable transfer war chest by Sepsi as he looks to add a fifth winner’s medal to his enviable collection.
Ambitious Sepsi were playing third-tier football as recently as 2016 but have now set their sights on a first Liga 1 crown. And they have pledged to give Petrescu a sizeable portion of funds to do just that.
The 95-cap Romania international won’t be taking the job until the end of this season, however, after walking away from Kayserispor for personal reasons.
“Even if I’m called by Celtic, I can’t train now. I say that until the summer, 99 per cent, I will not go to any team,” Petrescu told DigiSport last week.
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