Report: Alex Neil targeted by Celtic

According to the Daily Mail, Celtic are interested in luring Alex Neil away from Preston this summer.

Celtic saw Brendan Rodgers abruptly leave the club for Leicester City earlier this week, replacing Claude Puel. Despite chasing a third straight domestic treble, Rodgers has traded his ‘dream job’ for the Foxes.

Celtic moved quickly to land a replacement, re-appointing former boss Neil Lennon until the end of the season. Lennon has won his two games in charge so far, and has a real chance at landing the job permanently.

The Bhoys will consider alternative options though, and Preston boss Neil is now being linked with the job. The Daily Mail claim that Celtic are weighing up a move for Neil having been impressed with his work at Deepdale.

Neil, 37, took North End to the cusp of the play-offs last season and has lost just four of his last 25 games with the Lilywhites. Working on a tight budget, Neil has worked wonders at Deepdale and has established himself as one of the top young managers in British football.

We wrote just days ago that North End fans shouldn’t be too worried about the possibility of Neil being a top target, and that may still be the case. Celtic will be doing their due diligence on a host of managers, especially the top Scottish ones.

Neil was born just nine miles from Parkhead, and if we’re being honest, he’d be mad to turn down Celtic; they’re a huge, huge club who can offer Neil more money – both contract wise and in his transfer budget – as well as European football.

Preston may find it hard to keep Neil if Celtic come calling, though he may be just one of a number of potential targets at this stage. For now, Preston fans have to hope and pray that Lennon enjoys a dream return and lands the job permanently.

Yet even if it isn’t Celtic, Neil will no doubt attract interest from a number of clubs, meaning a nervy summer could be on the horizon.