RONNY DEILA must feel like a husband with a trophy wife, acutely aware that many others covet the beauty he has on his arm.

Virgil van Dijk is the subject of so much attention from managers down south, and further afield, with Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, Manchester United's Louis van Gaal and West Ham's Sam Allardyce among those casting envious glances in his direction.

But Deila does not spend his nights fretting that the Dutch defender will be prised away from Paradise.

The Celtic manager prefers to remain philosophical.

If a divorce between player and club is forced upon the Hoops, the settlement in their favour will make the separation more than bearable.

Performances like the one delivered by 23-year-old Van Dijk at Pittodrie on Sunday - when the cool centre-back helped keep Aberdeen at bay as they attempted to capitalise on their numerical advantage, then strode forward to snatch a late winner - serve only to increase his value.

They also further endear him to a support which, by the game, appreciates more and more what a steal he was when signed from Groningen for just £2.6million, but who also fear the day he will be lured away.

Deila understands their concern, while, at the same time, can appreciate why Van Dijk is becoming more and more attractive to managers at clubs with much more money than Celtic.

"Of course I understand this," said the Hoops boss. "Virgil is a quality player. But, you know, he is already at a big club. And he is improving all the time, in my opinion."

Deila accepts that it is the Celtic policy to find raw talent like Van Dijk, knock off their rough edges, then sell them on for big profit, as they have done to such great effect with the likes of Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster.

The manager does, however, insist that Van Dijk must not sell himself short.

"There is only one thing that's important for me," explained Deila. "Some time he will leave Celtic, but it will be to a top, top club, not to a team which is smaller than us.

"If he can't get that, Virgil has to continue here, I think."

Decision time on that one could be just around the corner. The opening of the January transfer window in 49 days is expected to be marked by a rush to test Celtic's resolve to hold onto their star player.

Van Dijk's promotion to Holland's full squad - though under-pressure boss Guus Hiddink cut him from the initial group for tonight's friendly against Mexico and Sunday's Euro qualifier against Latvia - has only elevated his standing in the game and his desirability.

It has also allowed Celtic to raise their valuation of the man who is under contract to them for a further two-and-a-half years.

So, if Arsenal, or any other club, want to be considered serious suitors, they will have to come up with serious money.

Which is why Deila considers the Parkhead club are in a win-win situation, and why the re-opening of the transfer window is not something which is viewed with foreboding by the Hoops boss.

"I don't fear anything," the Norwegian said of the prospect the big guns - or Gunners - could soon come calling, adding, "Then we would get paid, of course. We want to keep him here. That's the most important thing.

"But, if it happens, then I will be happy for Virgil as well because then he will have done good work here and improved.

"As I said, though, we can go through to the Europa League knockout rounds, and we can win the Treble. That would be fun for him to achieve, as well."

The prospect of sampling a Celtic v Rangers match when the clubs meet in the League Cup semi-final might be another reason for Van Dijk to put any thoughts of a move on hold at least until the summer.

That tie will be played either on the final day of the transfer window, or the day after it closes.

By then, Celtic will also know if they are still involved in Europe, or if it is all over again for another season.

What is already clear is that they have a better chance of progressing in both competitions if they can stay hitched to Van Dijk.