Mowbray hopeful on Fortune

Fortune: Decision time

I'll either be sitting watching him shaking someone's hand and holding a shirt up somewhere at an English Premier League club, or you will all come back here in a few days' time and meet the guy yourself.

Mowbray on Fortune
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Celtic boss Tony Mowbray says he is in the dark on which club Marc-Antoine Fortune will be playing for this season.

A number of clubs are battling it out for the Nancy striker's signature following a successful loan spell under Mowbray at West Brom.

The Bhoys have offered the 27-year-old hit-man a contract after agreeing a fee with Nancy, however, they face competition from the likes of Hull, Portsmouth and Fulham.

Balance

Mowbray insists he does not know which club Fortune will join and that he is as likely to sign for Celtic as either of the Premier League clubs.

"Everything is in the balance," said Mowbray. "I think it will happen naturally over the next day or two.

"I'll either be sitting watching him shaking someone's hand and holding a shirt up somewhere at an English Premier League club, or you will all come back here in a few days' time and meet the guy yourself. So let's wait and see."

Mowbray believes his relationship with Fortune could tilt the balance in Celtic's favour, although he concedes that rejecting the lure of a Premier League contract could be too hard to resist.

Pulling power

When asked if Mowbray's relationship with Fortune could influence his decision, he replied: "I think that's a benefit for our football club, but the draw of the Premier League and the potential salaries that could get paid down there by some of the clubs is also a drawing power.

"Every individual is different. Fortune came into the game late for instance at 21. He's hard working. It's his talent that's propelling him to a situation in his life where he finds himself coveted by a few clubs.

"That's a credit to him. Let's see what decision he makes. Whatever decision he makes I wish him well."