Celtic scout expects Van Dijk departure

Celtic have sold Fraser Forster and Victor Wanyama to Southampton in recent seasons and could yet lose another player, Van Dijk, to the south-coast club before the end of the transfer window.
Moss, assistant chief scout at Parkhead, admits the Hoops cannot compete with the financial power of clubs south of the border.
“We do not receive the £80-£100m Premier League clubs receive each year from SKY/BT,” Moss told a sports business conference on Tuesday.
“We therefore cannot compete for players playing in the Premier League and even majority of the Championship clubs. We therefore operate in a high-risk market as we cannot afford the ‘ready-made’ players and need to identify young and ‘unproven’ players.
“In recent seasons however we have done rather well working to this strategy with goalkeeper Fraser Forster, midfielder Victor Wanyama and Striker Gary Hooper selling for £10million, £12million and £6million respectively. All these players were bought for under £2.5million.
“Virgil Van Dijk will also probably be sold for in excess of these figures in the coming weeks.”
Celtic have had an offer rejected for Dinamo Zagreb defender Jozo Simunovic as they seek a possible replacement for Van Dijk, while Jason Denayer may be available again if Manchester City sign Nicolas Otamendi.
“Jason was not in the selection against Chelsea (last Sunday) but that was no surprise to us,” Denayer’s agent Jason De Preter said.
“But if City gets a defender, that’s it. They had promised us that no more defenders of that calibre would come. That does worry me.
“For now, we do not panic. Two weeks ago City wanted him absolutely not let go. That would still say they believe in him. But this should not take too long.
“If he is to sit on the bench or in the stands, he leaves. That’s an agreement we have with the club. He has to play, also with a view to the national team. But I repeat, that is not yet on the agenda. Jason also remains calm.”