Van Dijk happy at Celtic

Celtic F.C. manager Ronny Deila has insisted Virgil van Dijk does not want to leave the Scottish Premier League champions despite reports linking the highly-rated defender with Arsenal and Sunderland.

The Holland international, who joined Celtic from Dutch Eredivisie side FC Groningen for a fee in the region of £2.6 million in the summer of 2013, has impressed for Deila’s side this season, scoring six goals in 30 appearances in all competitions.

Van Dijk continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal after praising the club during the summer transfer window.

“He’s very happy,” Deila said. “I have spoken with him and we are very happy to keep him as well. He’s a top player.

“For me, Virgil’s developing now and taking steps all the time which is very important. I am so happy to have him. He is enjoying his football, playing well. That’s positive. He is such an important player for us.

“He has learned a lot from August. It’s not the first time a player has been affected. Others have been through these things as well. Stefan Johansen was the same.

“He came from the Euro Finals with Norway two years ago and played so badly for Stromsgodset. I had never seen him so bad because his mind was somewhere else.

“You can see a bit of that in John Guidetti now as well. If he can get his mind right, the goals will come again. If you think too much about uncertainties, about what you’re going to earn, it takes energy out of what you’re going to do on the pitch.

“But Virgil learned from what happened in the summer and he knows that if he’s good enough things will happen. This is the way he wants to do it.”