Peter Grant has suggested that Celtic make a move for Matt O'Riley - on one condition.
The attack-minded midfielder departed Glasgow's east end last summer, joining Brighton and Hove Albion in a £25m switch.
O'Riley, however, has struggled to find his feet on England's south coast, raising questions over his future ahead of the summer transfer window.
Grant, who coached the Dane when he was a youngster at Fulham, has floated the idea of a potential Celtic return on the basis that Reo Hatate departs the club in the coming months.
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He said [Go Radio]: "I don't think they will let him [Hatate] go cheaply, if they don't get the right offer he won't go.
"You are looking at Matt O'Riley's situation, for me, [how] can Matt O'Riley go from the hero he was at Celtic to being a bit-part with Brighton?
"He got a bad injury in his first game, he got six minutes the other night, I knew Matt as a kid, he wants to play football all the time.
"He wants to improve, he wants to get better, he wants to get in the Denmark team. He wants to do all of these things.
"The way he went about his business up here tells you the type of character he is. He never asked away, he never moaned, played every game.
"So, I am looking at it, if that situation keeps happening, would Matt be interested in a loan (return) situation, if you lose someone like Hatate?
"He knows the expectation, I would definitely ask the question, for sure."
O'Riley starred for Celtic last season, scoring 19 goals and assisting 18 across 49 appearances in all competitions.
The 24-year-old completed a clean sweep at the club's in-house Player of the Year awards to cap off a campaign to remember before his move south.
