PIERRE van Hooijdonk has told Virgil van Dijk that his future choice of club will not be enhanced by playing UEFA Champions League football - and he believes that the player could walk into any of the Premiership's top four teams now.

 

The former Celtic striker, who now acts as a Fifa agent, fully expects that there will be concrete interest in the defender from the English Premiership this summer.

There has been a raft of speculation surrounding the future of Van Dijk. Everton, Southampton, Spurs and Everton have all been credited with keeping tabs on the Dutchman although Celtic remain adamant that they do not wish to cash in on him.

With Jason Denayer heading back to Manchester City after Sunday's game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, there is already a defensive hole for Ronny Deila to fill.

The Norwegian has told Van Dijk that playing at the top level in Europe can get him a move to one of the top sides in the Premiership, but Van Hooijdonk did not share the Norwegian's philosophy.

"I can understand on one level why Ronny thinks that," said Van Hooijdonk. "I can see the logic in it.

"But if a club has looked at him and watched him closely then they already know what he is capable of.

"They will have assessed whether or not he is capable of playing at that level. I think he has shown that he can perform at the very top. He is on the radar of those top clubs now.

"If there are clubs who want to sign him then they will try to do it now. There aren't any clubs who will change their opinion on him because he is playing in the Champions League.

"It is up to the player himself what he wants to do now. He has to make a decision on his future. I can see why he would feel that he wants to go to another club and feel that he is being challenged every week."

Meanwhile, the former striker has also insisted that there has been no concrete interest in Nadir Ciftci from Celtic.

Van Hooijdonk is currently the player's agent and he has maintained that he has not spoken to anyone at Celtic about the playmaker.

Dundee United have offered Citci and John Souttar new contracts as they strive to keep their best players.

"There has been some speculation but that is all," said Van Hooijdonk. "There is nothing to report on that front.

"I have not had a conversation with Peter Lawwell or anyone else at Celtic about Nadir. He is a very good player so there is always going to be interest in him but we will see what happens."