Former Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy has emerged as a leading contender to take over at Ligue 1 side Lorient.
The 49-year-old has been out of work since leaving Glasgow in January, but is now firmly on the radar of the French club as they search for a successor to Olivier Pantaloni.
Lorient have been forced to look elsewhere after missing out on two of their preferred candidates, with Will Still heading to Auxerre and Stéphane Gilli joining Angers, with L’Équipe reporting Nancy is now under serious consideration.
Nancy’s profile has caught the attention of the club’s hierarchy, particularly given his track record in the USA where he led Columbus Crew to MLS Cup success in 2023.
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According to the source, Lorient sporting director Laurent Koscielny has already held talks with Nancy as they weigh up their next move. The Frenchman’s availability as a free agent is also understood to be a key factor, following his early exit from Celtic at the start of the year.
Nancy spent a short spell in Glasgow but left in January, and could now be set for a swift return to management in his homeland. However, he is not the only name under consideration.
Le Mans boss Patrick Videira is also on Lorient’s shortlist after guiding the club to back-to-back promotions from the National to Ligue 1.
Lorient could face a battle to land Videira, though, with Lens also tracking the highly-rated coach, while he remains under contract for another year.
Nancy, meanwhile, appears to be firmly in the frame as Lorient step up their search, with a return to Ligue 1 potentially on the horizon just months after his Celtic departure.
