Tuesday 30 December 2014 16:32, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila is confident defender Virgil van Dijk will be at the club until at least the end of the season.
The future of the 23-year-old central defender has been the subject of growing media speculation in the last four months.
But Deila insists he is unconcerned by reports linking the Dutchman with a move away from Celtic Park.
The club doesn’t need the money. We sold Fraser Forster in the summer and we don’t need to sell anyone and don’t want to sell anyone.
“I don’t think I have read one newspaper since I came here, so I have no problem with that," Deila said, speaking ahead of the Glasgow derby with Partick Thistle on New Year's Day.
“But I know about the things happening in January and what is important to know is that we want to keep every player who is important to us.
“We want to be stronger when we go into the first of February than we are now. That is where we are aiming for, what we want to do and what is going to happen as well.”
Celtic have stated on several occasions they have no need to sell van Dijk following the sale of goalkeeper Fraser Forster to Southampton for £10m last summer.
And Deila is looking to strengthen his squad in January with Celtic still involved in four competitions.
“The club doesn’t need the money," he said. "We sold Fraser Forster in the summer and we don’t need to sell anyone and don’t want to sell anyone. We want to keep our players.
“We want to build a team. We have so many big, important games coming up and the players want to be part of that.
“I know Virgil wants to be here. He loves the club and sees himself here longer term than January. We will not sell him in January, so that’s the positive thing.”
Watch the final Glasgow derby of the year when Thistle entertain Celtic at Firhill from 5.15pm this Thursday on Sky Sports 1
