Mutombo in contract talks with Caley Thistle
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ANDREA Mbuyi Mutombo is in contract talks with Caley Thistle.
The Belgian-born Congolese international played in the pre-season victory over Nairn 10 days ago and the player’s agent is discussing terms with manager John Hughes.
With Caley Thisle short of attacking options, which was highlighted during the narrow aggregate loss to FC Astra in the Europa League, Hughes has been keen to add more cutting edge to his team.
Mutombo counts Belgian sides Standard Liege, Zulte Waregem and Cercle Brugge among his former clubs, while last season he spent time at Croatian side NK Istra and ÉFC Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, who play in the French third tier.
The versatile attacking midfielder, who came through the ranks at former English FA Cup winners Portsmouth, would become the fifth summer signing at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium following Owain Fon Williams, Dani Lopez, Jordan Roberts and Nat Wedderburn.
It comes as Ryan Christie insists he is happy to stay at Caley Thistle but accepts playing in Europe will have inevitably raised his profile to interested suitors.
A host of clubs from England, most recently Aston Villa, have courted the promising midfielder, but his immediate future lies at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
The majority of Caley Thistle’s first-team squad have a year left on their contracts, with Christie being one of them. Appearing in the Europa League will bring him to the attention of scouts and managers further afield, and there is a possibility that he will follow in the footsteps of his Scotland under-21 teammate Ryan Gauld, who moved to Portugal. Christie signed an extension to his contract following his breakthrough last year and has 12 months to run on his current deal. A whirlwind 2014-15 campaign saw the 20-year-old capped for the Scotland under-21 team, win the Scottish Cup and the Scottish Football Writers’ young player of the year award.
A busy year awaits the Caley Thistle board as only Gary Warren, Josh Meekings, Greg Tansey and Richie Foran have contracts beyond the end of this season.
New signings Fon Williams, Wedderburn, Lopez and Roberts have all signed one-year deals, while those who were out of contract at the end of last season — David Raven, Danny Devine, Liam Polworth and Lewis Horner — have only signed on until summer 2016.
With the blow of losing key figures Graeme Shinnie, Marley Watkins and Edward Ofere still fresh in the mind, Caley Thistle will not wantbe reticent to lose more talent without recompense.
“Right now I’m happy here and I’m delighted with the success we’re having. Last season was a dream one for me, being my first professional season in Scotland,” said Christie. “Before the start of last season I was a bit in awe seeing my name linked with big clubs in England.
“Now I appreciate that a lot of it is perhaps rumour and comes from different sources. It’s always nice to see your name linked with these clubs.
“There are other players who have moved away from Scotland, and if that happens I’ll have to deal with it.”
Christie was one of the more impressive players in the first leg defeat to FC Astra in the Europa League, and was only denied a goal in Giurgiu by a superb save from Silviu Lung.
“Putting on a display against the Romanians, where West Ham scouts were sure to be watching ahead of their tie with Astra this week, will be no bad thing for Christie’s own prospects. It’s a big stage and these results will go all across Europe. People will be looking at who’s doing well in these games and you can raise your game accordingly,” said Christie.
Fellow under-21 cap Gauld, who moved from Dundee United to Sporting Lisbon last year, could be used as a barometer for Christie of how to handle any future career moves.
“Ryan is a similar player to me, which helps when I look at how he’s handled his move and how he’s doing,” he said.
“You never know. People knew that teams were watching him but I don’t think anyone knew that he would go to Sporting Lisbon. That’s how quickly things can change.”
