AC Milan and Juventus name checked by former Sky pundit as he speculates over Ange

Charlie Nicholas has claimed that Juventus and AC Milan are potential options for Ange Postecoglou post Celtic.

Vacancies at Leeds United and Southampton have resulted in predictable speculation that Postecoglou could be a candidate for those jobs.

Other managers might admit that it is ‘flattering to be linked with other clubs’ but the Celtic boss has remained single-minded in driving on his mission in Scotland.

Over four transfer windows the club has been transformed with a young ambitious squad driving success, trophies and crucially delivering Champions League football.

Reclaiming Celtic’s place at the top of Scottish football could be reinforced by the end of this season with Europe increasingly the focus for the ambitions of the hoops boss.

Picking up Nicholas’ thoughts in the Daily Express, the Daily Record reports the former Scotland striker saying:

When Ange Postecoglou leaves Celtic, he will be able to hand pick his next job. He will be in a position to go to a club that is absolutely right for him. I am in no doubt about that. Leeds United have been linked with the Aussie, while Southampton are also looking for a new manager.

A lot of the teams who have been connected to Postecoglou are battling to stay in the Premier League. They would still have more financial pull than Celtic but I don’t think any of them would be big enough to convince Postecoglou to even engage in a conversation.

I’m sure there are approaches for him all the time. Will there come a time when he gets frustrated with things in Glasgow? Possibly But I don’t think Postecoglou has a huge ego. I also doubt if money has ever been the main motivating factor for him.

He seems to be the type of manager who likes to come in and build things up. He wants to forge relationships and work with people he feels are on the same wavelength as him.

There will come a time when a project or an approach sufficiently floats his boat to tempt him away from Celtic. I said in this column last week that Liverpool could be an interesting one if Jurgen Klopp decides it’s time for a change. That job would be hard to turn down, especially as there is an emotional pull with Postecoglou having supported the Reds growing up.

People are mentioning potential opportunities in England, but clubs in mainland Europe will have taken note of the job Postecoglou is doing. Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan need sorting out, while a few Bundesliga clubs must be looking at the Australian and admiring his work at Celtic.

There will be chairmen thinking they could do something similar with their clubs over a three-year period. I don’t see Postecoglou being at any club for much longer than three years.

Given the way his teams play, what he demands and turnover of players he wants, there’s always going to be a breakdown somewhere. It’s just the way he works. It is also the harsh reality that if he continues to do well then he will move on.

Postecoglou is not going to stay at Celtic for the long term. Every Hoops supporter knows that.

Europe will be the benchmark for the Celtic boss, which might bring attention from some of the most iconic clubs on the continent as the Australian tops up his impressive work worldwide with success closer to Serie A.