Ronny Deila has issued a hands-off warning to clubs hoping to cash in on a raft of Celtic stars at the end of the season.
Numerous Hoops players, including Virgil van Dijk, Stefan Johansen, Nir Bitton and Charlie Mulgrew, have been linked with a move South of the border this summer.
However, Deila is said to have the full backing of chief executive Peter Lawwell to strengthen his side, and he has no intention of letting go of his key men.
"We don't need to sell them, we don't want to sell them. So we're going to keep them here," he is quoted as saying by The Express. "We want to be as strong as possible to get into the Champions League. That's where the moments and the money is to be found.
"I hope the message is quite clear – we want to keep our team and add people who can make the team better. What is the difference between me and Peter on this one? There isn't any. He would rather go to the Champions League than sell Virgil van Dijk.
"Stefan Johansen has never been in the Champions League and Virgil needs a very good campaign with Champions League football. If he does well there, it's easy to get to the big clubs. We just want to keep Nir here too. We'd rather give him a new contract than sell him. I don't know why anyone would think Charlie wasn't wanted here. He is an important player and he's going to stay."
Deila also admitted that he does not expect to keep hold of loanees Jason Denayer and John Guidetti beyond the end of the current campaign.
Daniel Lewis
