TIED UP: Mowbray wants Caldwell to stay with the Hoops
Scotland’s Player of the Year has confirmed he is desperate to work under his former Hibs gaffer Tony Mowbray at Parkhead.
So English clubs in the queue for the 27-year-old Scotland defender will be disappointed.
Mowbray hailed Caldwell as the cornerstone of his side when he was confirmed as Celtic’s new manager last week.
And there’s no way Mowbray, who said keeping Caldwell at Parkhead was his top priority, will miss the chance to make the 33-times capped defender his first signing. Caldwell has stalled on signing a fresh contract Celtic put before him nine months ago while Gordon Strachan was still in charge.
But that September offer could now be re-written
with Mogga’s blessing. And a deal is likely to be sealed within hours
of Caldwell returning from holiday in Dubai.
The
defender has gone on record saying: “I’ve always wanted to stay at
Celtic, but the club hasn’t put an offer in front of me since September.
“I want something sorted out quickly and hopefully, Tony Mowbray’s appointment will get this cleared up.
“Tony’s arrival has made me even more impatient to get this contract out of the way.”
And
new Hoops boss Mowbray declared: “I will speak to Gary soon about his
contract situation. The first chance I get, I will do that.
“I will talk to him, his advisors and to chief executive Peter Lawwell.”
Ironically,
Mowbray won’t be able to call on Caldwell for Celtic’s opening SPL
fixture at Aberdeen as he’s banned – and skipper and defensive partner
Stephen McManus will still be out injured.
Meanwhile,
Hibs can expect Mogga making a return to Easter Road with an improved
offer for rising Scotland striker Steven Fletcher, above.
He is also closing in on £2.5million-rated Nancy attacker Marc-Antoine Fortune to form an all-new Hoops frontline.
Hibs, of course, rejected Celtic’s £3m offer for Fletcher – and a move from Mowbray while he was at West Brom.
Preston’s Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger is another on Celtic’s radar at £1.5m.
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