Celtic’s pursuit of a new manager may appear to be reaching a conclusion but proceedings still aren’t straightforward for the Hoops hierarchy.

The Bhoys have been talking to Eddie Howe about the vacant role at Parkhead for the best part of a month but stumbling points are being met on a regular basis.

What’s the word?

The Daily Mail reported last week that Celtic were now in the closing stages of a deal to bring Howe to Paradise, but fresh claims stipulate that further problems could be on the horizon.

In an interview with Football Transfer Tavern, Lee Hendrie made a claim which was unlikely to sit well with the Hoops hierarchy.

The Sky Sports pundit said: “I think Eddie Howe, at the moment in time, I think he’s been linked with this job for so long, that I kind of feel like he’s waiting for something else to come along if you get what I mean. And I feel that’s not his first option.”

Worrying news

It would hardly be a surprise if this claim turned out to be true. After all, there have been a number of terms that Howe has wanted to settle before he even considers moving to Glasgow.

He wasn’t willing to take over until the summer, while he’s had a number of demands when assessing his backroom staff.

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It’s thought that the 43-year-old wanted to bring ‘the kitchen sink’ with him to Parkhead, a request to which Celtic didn't want to bow down.

One of the figures the former Bournemouth manager was hoping to bring with him was Richard Hughes. Celtic are currently trying to find themselves a new director of football and Howe reportedly favoured him over Fergal Harkin. However, as time has gone on, he has supposedly loosened his stance on Hughes.

The most crucial part of negotiations has been interest from elsewhere. The 43-year-old was thought to be on Crystal Palace’s shortlist if Roy Hodgson departs this summer, while his agent was trying to convince him to find a Premier League job.

With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why Celtic may not be his first port of call. After all, the Bhoys are such a huge club that, if you really wanted to go, you’d probably have accepted their terms right away.

A deal might be nearing a conclusion but Dominic McKay and Dermot Desmond should be a tad upset that Howe’s heart isn’t fully in matters at Parkhead.

With so many issues to address at the football club, they need someone who’s fully committed to sorting things out; Howe doesn’t look like that man.

AND in other news, Imagine him under Howe: Celtic must swoop for £45k-p/w beast with "unique pace"...