Clarets 'keen on' Caldwell double

11 October 2009 17:52
Reports north of the border on Sunday suggest Clarets boss Owen Coyle is keen to strengthen his defence in the January transfer window and has been alerted by Caldwell's contract negotiations at Parkhead. Caldwell has been in conflict with his club over a new contract. He has defended his right to go public with complaints and, as stand-in captain for Tony Mowbray's side, believes his wages should be on a par with those of Marc-Antoine Fortune, Aiden McGeady and Artur Boruc. The defender's contract expires at the end of this season and the talks have broken down at a time when Celtic's defence have been conceding goals and Tony Mowbray appears unsure as to his best centre-back partnership. Caldwell was left on the bench for last week's Old Firm match as Mowbray chose to pair Steven McManus with Glenn Loovens in the side's 2-1 defeat at Ibrox. George Burley picked the player for Scotland's defeat to Japan on Saturday but Caldwell played as a defensive midfielder in front of McManus and Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Christophe Berra. Burnley could wait until January to sign Caldwell on a pre-contract agreement, with the player moving south at the end of his current deal. Alternatively, a cut-price offer to sign the player when the January transfer window opens could tempt Celtic. If an increased contract offer is not made by Celtic then a January move would suit all parties. Burnley would be able to enlist the player in their bid to stay in the Premier League and Caldwell would get the wage increase he desires, as well as a starting spot in the prestigious league. The Celtic boss had already expressed his disappointment that contract talks had become public but accepted Caldwell's wish to improve the terms. "Gary is in a situation where he wants one thing, but after conversations with advisors there has been no agreement reached," Mowbray said last month. "Personally, I would like to leave all that in-house. I don't think it is a thing that should be discussed in public. "There have been discussions with Gary's advisors and if something gets resolved then great, if it doesn't, it will rumble on." Caldwell's brother Stephen is club captain at Turf Moor but has been restricted to just one appearance so far this season due to a succession of injuries.

Source: Team_Talk