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Celtic closing in on Brendan Rodgers

BRENDAN RODGERS has been heavily backed into odds-on for the vacant manager’s position at Celtic following the news that the Northern Irishman is the club’s number one target.

Celtic, who confirmed in April that Ronny Deila would leave his post at the end of the season, are believed to be at an advanced stage of negotiations with the former Liverpool and Swansea boss.

Rodgers, who has been without a club since being sacked on Merseyside in October 2015, is now a best-priced 8-11 with Coral to take over the reins at Celtic Park next season. He is as short as 4-11 with one firm having been as big as 7-2 to get the role yesterday morning.

Celtic are said to have also spoken to former Bhoys defender Malky Mackay about the position while former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes drifted in the market from 6-4  to 10-1 following the news.

Vicente Del Bosque has announced Spain’s 25-man preliminary squad for Euro 2016 and has opted to leave out Chelsea star Diego Costa and Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres.

Bookmakers reacted to the news by slashing Juventus striker Alvaro Morata from 33-1 into 20-1 to win the Golden Boot while veteran Athletic Bilbao hitman Aritz Aduriz has been trimmed into 33s from 50-1. 

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata also failed to make the squad but his club colleague Bastian Schweinsteiger has been named in Germany’s 27-man preliminary squad despite not playing for his club since March.

Best prices – next Celtic manager: 8-11 B Rodgers, 8 N Lennon, 8 R Keane, 10 D Moyes, 14 P Lambert, 20 M Mackay.

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