Celtic keep tabs on David Moyes as Everton contract ticks down

Celtic are monitoring David Moyes as a potential successor to interim manager Martin O'Neill, with the Scot's Everton contract expiring next summer and the Merseyside club's owners actively looking to sell up, according to reports.

The prospect of a return to Parkhead carries obvious romance: Celtic was where Moyes's own professional playing career began. Now an experienced Premier League operator, the 62-year-old could emerge as a serious option for the Scottish champions as they plan for life after O'Neill, whose current spell at the helm is widely viewed as a temporary arrangement.

Moyes's situation at Everton is central to the speculation. His contract runs out at the end of the season, and with the club's owners seeking a sale, the former West Ham and Manchester United boss could find his future at Goodison Park increasingly uncertain — opening the door for Celtic to make a move when the summer arrives.

O'Neill juggling present and future

While the long-term managerial picture simmers, O'Neill has more immediate concerns. The stand-in Celtic boss has revealed that defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is likely to miss Thursday's Europa League meeting with Benfica, a significant blow ahead of a heavyweight European test.

O'Neill has also weighed into the title race debate, claiming Rangers' absence from European competition this season hands them a "big advantage" over Celtic in the Premiership, with the Ibrox side able to rest and prepare for domestic fixtures while Celtic juggle continental commitments.

A defining stretch

Celtic come into this period having delivered a dominant post-international-break victory over Motherwell earlier this month, easing pressure that had built around Parkhead. But with key defensive absences, a demanding Europa League schedule and continued supporter scrutiny following the club's reported £6.6m pre-tax loss, the coming months could shape both the club's season — and its search for O'Neill's eventual successor.

Whether Moyes emerges as that man remains firmly in the realm of speculation for now. But with his Everton deal ticking down and his old club keeping watch, the pieces of a possible Parkhead homecoming are beginning to line up.