Van Dijk’s low key departure
Half a dozen English side’s have been linked with the defender with front runners Southampton likely to face competition from Everton, Liverpool, Sunderland and others for van Dijk’s signature.
Twelve months ago at Murrayfield Fraser Foster handed his jersey to a Celtic supporter after the Champions League defeat from Legia Warsaw as he prepared to complete his move to Southampton.
Whether van Dijk will be joining his old team-mate on the south coast remains to be seen but it looks certain that a cheque for over £10m will be heading Celtic’s way.
At the final whistle the Dutchman seemed to linger on the park a little longer, he wasn’t the last player off the park, Emilio Izaguirre took that honour after a visit to the Green Brigade, but as he headed for the tunnel van Dijk kept his head down as a handful of fans clapped after the 3-1 win over St Johnstone.
It wasn’t a vintage performance from the former Groningen defender but he always found time on the ball, was unrushed and generally untroubled although Celtic did provide St Johnstone with a worrying number of chances in the last 15 minutes.
Giving another broad hint to van Dijk’s departure was the half-time appearance of Tyler Blackett on loan from Manchester United.
After the match Ronny Deila admitted that there was more than one offer in for van Dijk but preferred to discuss the arrival of Blackett.
The Celtic boss said: “Tyler will bring quality. He’s a good player, a young player and has experience playing for Manchester United. He really wanted to come and play for Celtic and he’ll be a good signing.
“He can play centre back and left-back so we’ll see what his best position will be in September.”
With three days left in the transfer window it seems certain that van Dijk will be on the move with Deila’s attention focussed on putting together a new look back four for the top of the table clash with Aberdeen in a fortnight.