Mowbray - Keane out of reach

Bhoys boss insists striker is too pricey

Last updated: 19th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mowbray - Keane out of reach

Keane: Too pricey for Bhoys

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Celtic manager Tony Mowbray insists the club will be unable to push through a permanent deal to keep Robbie Keane this summer.

The Spurs striker is currently illuminating the SPL on loan having plundered an impressive four goals in six league appearances.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has ruled out Keane leaving on loan next season, meaning Celtic would need to offer a sizeable fee to secure his signature permanently.

As the North Londoners splashed out £12million to sign the Republic of Ireland ace, Mowbray does not believe the club would be able to afford anywhere near that.

"For me it is about Robbie enjoying his football and hopefully the Celtic fans have enjoyed what he brings and the goals that he brings," explained Mowbray.

Contributed

"If it is the case that he goes back to Tottenham at the end of the season all we can do is hope he enjoyed his time at Celtic and contributed some goals, which he already has done, and hopefully some enjoyment for the supporters.

"But football is very much about finance these days and Robbie Keane is way out of our structure. He cost them (Spurs) £12million. I don't think that our board are going to loosen the purse strings that much.

"I wouldn't dare tell Harry Redknapp what his best options would be, but I do know that Robbie will have benefited from playing regular football and he has shown the quality that he possesses.

"Harry has some pretty special players at his disposal and Robbie is here because Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko were competition for him and obviously he wanted to play. He may face similar challenges when he goes back.

"But when was the last time a Scottish club played £12million for a player? Was it Tore Andre Flo? Those days are long gone in the Scottish game, I think."