Sol Campbell is ready to become Neil Lennon’s first Celtic signing.
The out of contract former England defender has already been in talks with Celtic and is now ready to go into detail now that Lennon has been confirmed as manager.
Twelve months ago Campbell shocked football by signing for Notts County but will now choose between Celtic and Arsenal where he’ll be playing his football next season.
Arsene Wenger has offered the defender a one year deal to stay on at Arsenal but a two year contract and a leading role at Celtic could persuade the defender to move north.
He admitted: “I want to be up front with everyone. I want to pursue Celtic and that would see me coming up for a look around.
“Arsenal, though, also brought me back and that meant a great deal. It’s a club that’s given me so many happy memories and there’s an offer to stay.
“I don’t want any-one’s nose out of joint. It’s important things are done properly and if I were to leave Arsenal I’d want it to be on the best possible terms.
“I’ve a big decision and I’ll carefully consider all my options but I can only repeat again that I’m serious with my interest in Celtic.”
Campbell has never been afraid of doing his own thing and shocked London by crossing directly from Spurs to Arsenal on a Bosman deal in 2001.
Throughout his career Campbell has left on a free at the end of his contract and left Arsenal for Portsmouth in 2006 where he picked up an FA Cup winners medal three years later before quitting for Notts County.
Campbell played just one match in League Two and believes that he can be a winner again and sample European football.
He told The Scottish Sun: “I’m a winner and that’s all that would interest me if I joined Celtic. I would also give Scottish football total respect
“I think Celtic want to get back to where they should be. It’s a massive club.
“The ambition is to win the championship again and make proper in-roads in Europe. For me that’s exciting.
“You want leaders on the pitch and that’s why Neil is looking at me. He wants more of them in the side. Not only does Neil want to push Celtic domestically, he wants to push them in Europe and be a force again.
“That really appeals to me. When you go out there you want to know the whole club is behind that push.
“That’s what football’s all about – you want to keep on pushing and see how far you can go. Neil’s young and ambitious. He wants to do that. And I think he’s exactly what Celtic need right now.
“My desire to be successful is as strong as ever. But I need to hear that everyone at the club feels the same.
“It’s about pushing the boat out that bit further than everyone else. That’s what leads you to success.”
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I really respect the way this guy conducts himself and would be thrilled to have him at Celtic. I think it looks likely judging by the comments he is making.