Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell eager for Virgil van Dijk stay

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.