TONY MOWBRAY is closing in on Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune - but does not want to finance the £3.8million deal by selling Scott McDonald.
TONY MOWBRAY is closing in on Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune - but does not want to finance the £3.8million deal by selling Scott McDonald.
Celtic's top scorer for the past two seasons is a £6m target for Hull, who have also bid for Fortune. Mowbray's transfer budget would be doubled if McDonald - who cost just £700,000 when bought from Motherwell two years ago - was sold.
But, with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's contract due to run out next week, the Parkhead boss is looking to pair up McDonald with Fortune, not bring in the French-based striker as a replacement for the Australian.
McDonald has been the subject of interest from Premier League clubs before now, and Celtic have always rejected any overtures.
Mowbray, though, knows the striker's value to the side after he banged in 50 goals in his first two seasons.
Extra spending power can be generated by the sale of fringe players such as Massimo Donati, who is attracting interest from Sampdoria, Parma and Napoli.
But Mowbray is desperate to hang onto his big hitters - and that includes McDonald.
Fortune is considered the man to provide a serious alternative to Georgios Samaras as a partner for McDonald, and Celtic are thought to have made their move to prevent the former West Brom loan star heading to Hull by tabling an offer of nearly £4m.
Fortune's agent, Michael Manuello, revealed: "It's a straightforward choice between Celtic and Hull for Marc-Antoine.
"He has never hidden his desire to work again with Mowbray after a loan spell at West Brom, but is also keen to land the best financial deal.
"The clubs are talking and we're discussing everything. No deal has been struck yet, but we're close.
"Marc doesn't have to meet Tony Mowbray to know what it will be like to play for him at Celtic because he already knows the manager very well and trusts him."
Nancy president Jacques Rousselot confirmed Celtic have made a firm offer and expects to sell Fortune very soon.
He said: "We're close to concluding a deal and I hope it will be completed by the start of next week at the latest."
This could mark the start of a flurry of transfer activity at Parkhead.
Though assistant boss Mark Venus has warned the club would rather take their time to ensure they get the right men than be panicked into signing players in time for the Champions League ties, there is serious activity behind the scenes.
Real Sociedad defender Xabi Castillo has been on the club's radar for several months, and becomes a free agent on Tuesday.
Reports from Spain claim Celtic remain his preferred destination, while his countryman, Fernando Marques, has also been linked with a move to Parkhead.
Like Castillo, he is a free agent after his contract at Greek club Iraklis - who are still waiting for an answer from Paul Hartley regarding the two-year deal they have offered him - cancelled the 24 year-old midfielder's contract.
