Mogga after Valero

TONY MOWBRAY was so sure he would land the Celtic job he was planning targets and tactics before a deal had been agreed with West Brom.

Sport of the World understands Mogga wants to return to the Hawthorns for £3million-rated Spanish midfielder Borja Valero.

He wants him to link with countryman Marc Crosas, below, in central midfield.

Mowbray sees Crosas and Valero, right, playing together, with Scott Brown in the more advanced role he thrived in under his old manager at Easter Road.

Tottenham are keen on Brown, but Mowbray won't let him leave.

West Brom finally admitted defeat in their bid to hold on to their manager yesterday afternoon.Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace said: "We don't want to lose Tony. He has been an integral part of a long-term project at the club which the vast majority of our fans have bought into.

Complex

"But Tony expressed his desire to speak to Celtic and now that the compensation figure in his contract has been met to our satisfaction, that process can take place.

"If Tony decides to join Celtic he'd leave with our good wishes and we would immediately put into action the task of

appointing a new manager who can take the club forward."

Celtic chairman John Reid added: "We can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with West Bromwich Albion Football Club and have been given permission to speak to Tony Mowbray and his backroom staff.

"These are complex but important

negotiations and we can assure our

supporters we continue to aim to get the right man for the job in the right way."

Mowbray signed Valero, 24, from Real Mallorca last August and he was a

regular in last season's Premier League campaign.

Although he is under contract at the Hawthorns until 2012, Mowbray sees him as a key target.

He scored the last-minute winner for Spain's Under-19 side against

Turkey in the European Finals in Switzerland in July 2004.

He started out at Real Madrid and played in the Champions League against Dynamo Kiev in 2006 but spent most of his time in their B side before moving to Mallorca in 2007.

Another of Mogga's former Easter Road kids, Steven Fletcher, is also a signing target - and Hibs would accept Celtic's offer to fund new boss John Hughes' transfer targets.

The Hoops are also making further changes behind the scenes, with former Hibs

defender Tommy McIntyre moving from the SFA to oversee Chris McCart's

under-17 and under-19 academy with Stevie Frail and Miodrag Krivokapic.

Mowbray's imminent move has been backed by Peter Rafferty, secretary of the Association of Celtic Supporters' Clubs.

The Bhoys have agreed to pay £2m to West Brom and they will have to fork out more to bring coaches Mark

Venus and former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant to Glasgow.

Quality

The new management team is likely to be in place this week and

Rafferty reckons former Celts defender Mogga's reputation for playing good football will be a hit with fans.

During his four years at Celtic former boss Gordon Strachan won three SPL titles and three cups and took the club to the last 16 of the Champions League two seasons in a row, yet many fans complained about the quality of football.

But Rafferty said: "Tony Mowbray will be a good appointment. He has served a decent apprenticeship in Scotland and England

"He is obviously aware of Celtic and he will be well received by the fans.

"Peter Grant will be coming with him and nobody is a bigger Celtic man.

"Even at West Brom, Tony was committed to good football and the fans still supported him, and that says a lot when he got the team relegated.

"We look forward to Celtic playing exciting, entertaining football - but we need to get the balance right.

"We will want to play class football, but it is important that we win and when I say win, I mean win trophies."

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