Celtic might have to wait for their Virgil van Dijk windfall with Southampton vowing to play hardball with clubs looking to entice the player elsewhere this summer.

In an unprecedented move last week, Liverpool withdrew their interest in the 25-year-old Dutch defender after being threatened with legal action as Southampton believed their player had been ‘tapped up.’

The Anfield side put out a statement to formally apologise – after Van Dijk had declared them his favoured destination.

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Chelsea and Manchester City are also in the running for the player who has been valued at £60m by Southampton, who are looking to recoup the additional 10% sell-on fee that Celtic are owed whenever he does move on.

However, Southampton have hinted that they will treat any illegal approach in the same way as they did Liverpool’s meaning that Celtic could have to wait for any additional revenue this summer.

The Parkhead side are keen on bringing Patrick Roberts back to the club on a permanent basis, while they have also been linked with a move for Lovro Majer, a 19-year-old Croatian attacking midfielder.

Sources within the club have also been insistent that they do not wish to lose any of their main players this summer. Moussa Dembele remains on the wishlist of various clubs but Celtic are adamant that they will not sell, while any moved from Newcastle or West Brom for Leigh Griffiths are also likely to be rebuffed.

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Meanwhile, Celtic’s academy structure is set for a further boost. It is believed that the club’s pools have brought in more than £1m this season, money that is redirected into the academy structure of the club.

It adds to the feelgood factor within Celtic at the minute, with more than 50,000 season tickets sold on the back of the Treble winning season. Celtic banked an estimated £25m to £30m from their involvement from last season’s UEFA Champions League as Brendan Rodgers’ made an immediate impact at the club.

Fringe player Nadir Ciftci is also expected to move on this summer while the likes of Gary Mackay-Steven and Scott Allan could join them in heading for the exit.