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Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell eager for Virgil van Dijk stay

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell believes that defender Virgil van Dijk should stay with the club in order to develop his career.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has urged defender Virgil van Dijk to remain with the club.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Hoops last summer from FC Groningen, has been linked with a move to the Premier League following an impressive debut season in Scottish football.

However, Lawwell believes that the Dutch centre-back should stay at Parkhead in order to develop his career.

"One year is far too early for him [to leave]. He needs another year in the Champions League. He has to develop here," he told the Sunday Mail.

"We have a manager whom I think will make him better, make all our players better, and if I was his advisor I'd be saying, 'No, no' - but you never know. And yes, I've spoken to his agent. We don't want to sell him.

"Unfortunately, though, in my experience you can say a player isn't going and then someone comes in the back door and he's offered four or five times his money."

Van Dijk scored five goals in 45 games for Celtic during the 2013-14 campaign.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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