Virgil van Dijk: Celtic defender in no rush to leave

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Celtic defender Virgil van DijkImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Van Dijk is nearing the end of his second season with Celtic

Virgil van Dijk insists he is in no rush to leave Celtic and believes he is continuing to make progress while with the Scottish champions.

Defender Van Dijk, who joined on a four-year contract in 2013, has been the subject of transfer speculation.

"I'm not in a rush," he said. "But, if the opportunity is there, you never know because it's football.

"I'm 23, I'm learning every day. I will see what happens in the summer, but as it looks right now, I am still here."

Manager Ronny Deila insisted on Wednesday the defender would stay with Celtic to help the club in their Champions League qualification quest next season.

Image source, SNS
Image caption,

Deila and Van Dijk during pre-season last summer

Van Dijk has still to realise his dream of a call-up to the Netherlands squad but said: "I think I have made a lot of progress.

"At Celtic, there is always pressure and I'm a regular starter, so there is expectation.

"But there was a lot of speculation in the summer that I wanted to leave, so everybody was not so positive around me, but I just enjoy playing here."

Celtic have already won the Scottish League Cup and are hoping to add the Scottish Cup and Premiership title.

"I am just focusing on Celtic, winning the treble," added the Dutchman.

"I want to get the maximum out of myself, I want to be a better player and a better human being as well.

"When the season is going on, or even if the transfer window is open, I am just focusing on Celtic, I close everything else off. I enjoy every day here.

"Every player wants to develop, but I know Celtic is an amazing club, a very big club and you don't want to leave Celtic for a lesser club."

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