TONY MOWBRAY today assured Celtic fans they will be welcoming new stars to their side soon.
SPORTCAST: Does Artur Boruc have a future at Celtic?
Darryl Broadfoot, Michael Grant, Ronnie Cully and Matthew Lindsay discuss the latest football news.
TONY MOWBRAY today assured Celtic fans they will be welcoming new stars to their side soon.
The lack of new signings so far is no indication of the activity going on behind the scenes.
If all goes well, Mowbray hopes to receive confirmation today or tomorrow that Marc-Antoine Fortune has agreed to become the first of four new recruits he wants to bring to the club.
A fee has been agreed with Nancy for the striker. But, though the personal terms are generous by Celtic standards in the current climate, they fall well short of what Fortune has been offered by English Premier League clubs chasing his signature.
If he decides to follow the money, Mowbray already has alternatives in mind, and said: "We're putting markers down everywhere.
"We are further advanced with some potential signings than we are with others.
"But, with anything in this game, you think something is done, then it's not done. That's why you've got to have options.
"It's no good putting all your eggs in one basket. You are constantly working on names."
He continued: "If I signed every player we were connected with, we'd have a squad of 50, 60 or 70.
"What you do is make enquiries. And if one doesn't come off, you are ready to push harder with another. That's where we are really.
"We're working very, very hard, but it's not always easy to make that happen, especially when you are looking at good players who have options."
Shunsuke Nakamura, Paul Hartley - who is set to join Bristol City - Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Bobo Balde and Jo Doumbe have all dropped off the payroll, freeing up substantial wages.
But Mowbray has revealed there could be further outs as well as ins, depending on what offers are received and whether or not it is considered good business for the club.
Artur Boruc - who has already had a long talk about his future with Mowbray - is one star who would attract big money, and rumours are rife that he has put his Glasgow home up for sale.
But the man who has arrived to challenge Boruc for the first-team spot, Lukasz Zaluska, has denied his countryman is planning a quick exit.
"Is Artur leaving Celtic? Well, he didn't bring his luggage to training with him," said the Bosman signing from Dundee United.
"What I do know is we had a really good first day of training. It was a heavy day's work, but it was nice to practice together with Artur."
