Mowbray’s First Goal to Re-sign Caldwell

By: Matt | June 18th, 2009

Tony Mowbray has admitted that his first priority at Celtic will be to re-sign Gary Caldwell to a new contract. Mowbray said that he will enter into negotiations with his former player at Hibernian next week to sign the rock of the Celtic defense. He said on the matter, “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 about it. I will see where we are at because I am sure he has been approached before now on a new contract. I assume he has. I have not tip-toed into the issue as yet, but I will see what Gary thinks.”

Besides trying to sign his own players to an extension, Mowbray has also allegedly been interested in Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull and Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune. Why he would want ANOTHER keeper, I am not sure. I am also not overwhelmed with Fortune, as he doesn’t seem Celtic quality. Someone who IS Celtic quality is James McCarthy and there is talk on the Tim-ernet that young Mr. McCarthy cut his Donegal holiday short to discuss things with Celtic.

Icelandic international Sölvi Geir Ottesen has been invited to train with Celtic during pre-season with a view to a deal subject to a permission from his danish club, SönderjyskE. Ottesen is a 24 year old Central Defender, but can also play full back and defensive midfielder. Birmingham are also interested in the Icelandic international, but Celtic will get first crack and see what he can do in training camp.

Finally, in a surprise move, Shunsuke Nakamura has decided to sign with Espanyol in La Liga, instead of going back to Japan to play in the J-League like it was widely speculated he would. It is a bit surprising that Naka decided to do this, as he talked about how much he loved Celtic, but wanted to go to Japan to raise his children there. I’m not sure if they speak much Japanese in the Barcelona, but Naka apparently changed his mind. It is a bit disappointing he did, but Naka has meant so much to this club over the last few years that it should not matter. I’d like to thank Naka for all he’s done for Celtic and wish him well in Spain. I found a nice little Naka tribute video made by T.D. of the Celtic forum NaDeadRaibead.