Source: Daily_Mail
It will take silly money to land my stars, insists Celtic boss Tony Mowbray
Celtic boss Tony Mowbray warned English vultures that it will take silly money to persuade him to part with his star players.[LNB] Birmingham City are preparing a January bid for Aiden McGeady, while former Parkhead manager Gordon Strachan wants to take Gary Caldwell, Scott McDonald and Mark Wilson to Middlesbrough.[LNB] Target: Celtic winger Aiden McGeady (right)[LNB] Despite the Parkhead side going out of Europe before the clash with Rapid Vienna - and attendances dropping at Celtic Park this season - Mowbray denies there is any pressure to sell.[LNB] Intent on building rather than dismantling a team, the Englishman will allow unhappy fringe players to leave. But he warned Strachan and others: 'No one will go who we don't want to go, although that has always been the case.[LNB] 'Why would you sell your best players? Why sell if they are under contract, you want to keep them and you're trying to build something?[LNB] 'Aiden is important because of the emphasis I have on wide players. He has talent. Again, why would I sell any of our best players? 'Regarding Aiden, there are no issues because his contract has years to run. It's not even a question, as far as I'm concerned.'[LNB] Despite repeated assurances from Mowbray that he has no intention of allowing creative fulcrum McGeady to leave, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is a confirmed admirer of the Republic of Ireland winger and has a £40million transfer fund at his disposal.[LNB] Nevertheless, Mowbray insisted: 'If you let people go, it's for prices that are maybe not over the odds, but the right price.[LNB] 'There's no need to sell cheaply. People can speculate all they want and it's not all bad if people want your players.[LNB] 'If no one wants your players, it would suggest that you don't have any good ones.[LNB] 'However, there are many ingredients that can make a deal happen or not happen.[LNB] 'Every player has a price and if someone wants to offer Manchester City-type money for a footballer, then we would listen.[LNB] 'But, at this moment, no one will leave if it's not beneficial to our club.[LNB] 'If people leave, they will only do it for footballing reasons, in conjunction with the chief executive and financial people, because every club has to understand financial restraints.[LNB] 'But the positive about our club is that we don't have any financial issues that need dealt with urgently.'[LNB] Meantime, the agent of Zenit St Petersburg defender Tomas Hubocan insisted yesterday that he is in constant touch with Celtic concerning a loan move for the Slovakian next month.[LNB] Mowbray added: 'We have targets for January to help the team. If they come off, good. If not, then we will push on.[LNB] 'No one will leave who doesn't want to and we will try our best to add to the squad.' [LNB] Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra out of New Year showdown with CelticThird raters: Gers midfielder Thomson scoffs at rivals Dundee United and Hibs[LNB] [LNB]
