Roy Keane could be on the verge of a dramatic return to management with Celtic, after it was confirmed that the former Manchester United captain has been in talks over the post vacated last week by Neil Lennon.

Keane, who is combining punditry work for ITV with a role as the assistant to Martin O’Neill with the Republic of Ireland, was due to speak to the media on Thursday evening to preview Saturday’s friendly match against Italy. Keane skipped that press conference, with O’Neill instead revealing that his coach had been approached.

“I had a call the other day from [Celtic’s main shareholder] Dermot Desmond wanting to speak to Roy if it was at all possible, and I mentioned it to Roy, of course,” said O’Neill.

“I am sure he was wanting to have a chat anyway because a club like Celtic might not come around too often. It was just a really informal chat, I think, but if you are asking me would I be really disappointed? Of course, if Roy was to leave us.

“But I kind of felt that when I took him on in the first place, that over the course of the next 18 months to two years, that this thing was likely to happen. He was coming right back into high profile again. Perhaps I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. He has had a number of offers too from other football clubs as well, so he has obviously a lot to consider.”

Still, the lure of a post with potential to operate in the Champions League would surely appeal to Keane. Some bookmakers have removed the next Celtic manager market on the expectation that the 42-year-old will be appointed.

Celtic issued a statement on Thursday evening in relation to “speculation”: “The club can confirm that it is currently continuing its discussions with a number of excellent candidates.”

Keane spent a brief and uneventful spell as a Celtic player in the latter half of the 2005-06 season. He later managed Sunderland and Ipswich Town.

Celtic have talked with other potential successors to Lennon, who resigned after four years in charge.

Henrik Larsson is understood to have held discussions but has distanced himself from the role.

Owen Coyle and Malky Mackay have also been linked but neither is understood to have been contacted again by the club after provisional interest was established.