Brendan Rodgers is expected to become Leicester City’s manager after Celtic gave him permission to speak to the Premier League club.The Foxes are keen to replace the sacked Claude Puel as soon as possible.
First-team coach John Kennedy is set to take charge of Celtic for Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership trip to Hearts.
Former boss Neil Lennon is set to take over until the end of the season if fellow Northern Irishman Rodgers’ departure is confirmed.
“Brendan has indicated that this is an opportunity he wishes to investigate further,” Celtic said in a statement.
Ex-Liverpool manager Rodgers cut short a BBC interview when asked about the Leicester vacancy after the champions’ win over Motherwell on Sunday.
They are eight points clear of nearest rivals Rangers in the league as they chase an eighth successive title.Rodgers has won two Scottish Premierships, three Scottish League Cups and two Scottish Cups since arriving at Parkhead in the summer of 2016.
They reached the group stages of the Champions League in his first two seasons, but were knocked out in the third qualifying round by AEK Athens this term amid unrest between Rodgers and the Celtic board over a failure to strengthen the squad last summer.
Last week, they bowed out of the Europa League at the last-32 stage for the second successive season, losing to Valencia.
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard played under Rodgers at Liverpool, where he narrowly failed to guide them to the Premier League title in 2014 before his departure in October 2015.
Gerrard, speaking speaking in an interview said: “Brendan has done ever so well at Celtic over the last few years. It is no surprise other clubs watch him and want to acquire his services.
“I have worked with Brendan, he is a very good coach. I am not surprised at the timing. From our point of view, we will keep an eye on it and see how it pans out. My focus is on Rangers.”
Puel was dismissed after 16 months in charge following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.The 57-year-old Frenchman left the club 12th in the Premier League having lost five of their past six league games.
First-team coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler were put in temporary charge. Leicester play Brighton at home in the Premier League on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).