If Brendan Rodgers is to make a return to Celtic then the terms and conditions will include a plan for investment to become a competitive force in Europe.
But continental glass ceilings have been shattered before by the Hoops - a UEFA Cup Final in Seville in 2003 and another standout night with a win over Barcelona at Parkhead in 2012 to name but two. Charlie Mulgrew was a part of Neil Lennon's side which put Lionel Messi and Co to the sword 11 years ago and he believes a tactical mindset will be just as important as money if his old club are to have a fighting chance when jousting with the giants of the game.
It's believed Rodgers has held a number of in-depth discussions with major shareholder Dermot Desmond to thrash out his conditions for a second stint in Glasgow and it remains to be seen if a second stint at the club is to be confirmed. Mulgrew is adamant bravery on the ball will always trump any transfer budget.
He said: "I don't know what Brendan Rodgers' plan is. I'm sure if he does have a plan to make Celtic a greater force in Europe then he'll have thought long and hard about it being the top class coach that he is.
"I'm sure he'll have a good idea about what he wants to do. Maybe that could entail having more of the ball but to do that you need to have good players which Celtic do. You need to take the ball in the right areas and be brave in venues away from home where there are hostile atmospheres and the expectation is on the home team to have the ball.
"You need to be willing to play under pressure and if Brendan decides to go down that route in Europe then it's another way he could do it. All coaches do it differently and there are a variety of different ways to play the game but I'm sure Brendan will have his way if he does take up the challenge to come back to the club.
"He will have players in mind and styles of play with players who can fit that. Of course there is a certain amount of financial backing needed but you also need to be realistic. There won't be hundreds of millions thrown at it in the way a Manchester City can. Celtic's business model is top notch and it's the reason why the club is run so well. It's been impeccably run over the last 20 years and that's credit to the owners and I think they'll stay within that financial model but at the same time that also allows the manager to make some big signings.
"That is crucial as he'll need to get people in the door who will suit his style. It's exciting times and it certainly needs some money but not over the top amounts of money as Celtic don't operate in that way."
Mulgrew admits the financial restraints at both Glasgow giants will always require coaches to come up with other ways of achieving success in Europe but the Dundee United stalwart is adamant history proves it can be done.
He said: "Every manager or coach has their own idea about what exactly success entails. It's always going to be difficult for both Celtic and Rangers in Europe but in the past they have both shown that there are good runs to be had in both the Champions League and Europa League.
"In my opinion a big part of that is the off the ball, when a team doesn't have possession. It's about picking the right times when to press the ball high up the pitch and when to sit in a shape and try to control the game out of possession. The reality when you confront world class teams who are always going to enjoy a lot of possession, that's the way a lot of the biggest teams in the Champions League play the game.
"You watch the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City and they like to have the ball and it's important a team like Celtic are comfortable when they are out of possession during the game. That's not to say it has to be about having a defensive mindset and sitting on your own 18-yard line.
"It's about being comfortable and accepting the fact you may not have the ball for long spells. In my opinion that's a big part of what would help all Scottish teams in Europe and when you do have the ball you need to have a plan as to how you are going to break down an opponent. These teams are used to having a lot of possession, it's about a plan to deal with it and be effective when you have the ball."
Mulgrew enjoyed two spells with the Hoops having started his career at Lennoxtown before enjoying a trophy-laden six year stint on his return and he's convinced patience and ability to adapt to new ideas will be part of a new era in the Celtic dugout.
He said: "You need to give people a bit of time but I think the best coaches have an ability to get their messages across quite quickly. I think Ange Postecoglou managed to do that even though his time at the club started with a couple of defeats here and there.
"He quickly brought players in the door and had them playing to his system quickly and that's what Brendan Rodgers did during his first spell at Celtic. There were one or two early defeats during a period of adjustment but he then found the players who he could trust and who could fit into his style.
"It's important to remember that coaches are adapting all the time, if you are not moving forwards then you are going backwards because the game is constantly moving on. You could see Manchester City against Inter Milan in the Champions League Final where they were inverting their full-backs into number eights so the game is always evolving. Knowing Brendan the little bit that I do when I've spoken to him and trained with him a few times, I know he's a manager who is forward thinking and I'm sure he will have a plan so it will be exciting times if he does return.
"I'm sure he wouldn't take the job unless he'd thought things through thoroughly. Celtic is a unique club in terms of once you have been at Celtic you become part of the Celtic family and I think Brendan will be welcomed back and like every manager, the fans will demand success.
"That's a big part of the reason why the club gets success, the culture of the club starts with the fans and it's about winning and if you win they'll get right behind you. That's the nature of football and I'm certain the fans will get behind him and get behind the club."
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