Celtic manager RonnieDeila has been quoted in the Scottish media about the future of Saints target Virgil Van Dijk.
The problem that Deila has though is that he has to try and speak positively and cannot say anything else other than he is hopeful that Van Dijk will stay with the club after they have completed their Champions League tie with Malmo.
Speaking to the Daily Record in Scotland he said.
"I wouldn’t say that [he will leave after this game]. We’re in control and he’s a Celtic player who still has a long contract here. I hope we can have him longer than these European games.”
But Deila knows that any hopes he has of retaining Van Dijk rest on Celtic gaining qualification to the Champions League group stages and even then it would be hard to keep the central defender.
Should Celtic go out then it is a virtual certainty that the Dutch player will depart Celtic and Saints are firm favourites to land him.
From a Southampton perspective there have been many rumours that it is a done deal and certainly despite reports Saints are looking elsewhere Ronald Koeman seems relaxed about the whole situation.
This suggests that Celtic are resigned to the player going whatever happens in the Champions League but they are not going to let him go until that situation is resolved, the Glasgow club need not only the cash from qualifying for the group stages, but some sort of interest for their supporters, since Rangers were relegated the Scottish Premier has been a one horse race and attendances at Parkhead have reflected that, qualifying for the Champions League brings not only the cash but the glamour that domestic football in Scotland can't bring them.
For Virgil Van Dijk however he needs to be proving himself in a quality division if he wants to try and force his way into the Dutch squad for next years Euro's, a few games in the Champions league wont do that, he needs tough games week in week out, saying that it seems that once Celti know their fate, whatever that fate may be he will be moving to the Premier League