Wednesday 26 August 2015 13:46, UK
Virgil van Dijk says he will consider offers from other clubs after Celtic were eliminated from the Champions League at the final qualifying stage for the second year in a row.
The Parkhead side lost 2-0 to Malmo in Sweden and that ensured the Scandinavians progressed into the group phase 4-3 on aggregate.
It was the second consecutive campaign the Scottish side were knocked out in the last preliminary round after they were beaten by Slovenian outfit Maribor last season.
Defeat on this occasion leaves Celtic in danger of losing their prized asset Van Dijk, who has been linked with a move to Southampton for much of the summer.
The Glasgow side's manager Ronny Deila insisted after the game in Malmo his defender remains under contract and there is no need to sell him.
That's despite Celtic missing out on the eight-figure windfall which would have come with progression to the last 32 of the competition.
Van Dijk is known to want to play at a high level, however, and with his side bound for the Europa League instead, he is expected to move and the Premier League is his most likely destination.
Asked if he would remain for Celtic's Europa League campaign, the Dutchman told Sky Sports News HQ: "I don't know, it is so close after the game.
"I can't give my opinion on that right now. I'm very disappointed and it's a terrible way if it ends like this. I don't know what is going to happen.
"I'm not looking for anything. It's a great place to be and they (Celtic) gave me a great opportunity to show myself so I'm very thankful for that.
"But if the opportunity comes and it's the right opportunity for me then I'll consider it, yeah, but that's what every player, I think, would do.
"It's still difficult. Celtic is an amazing club and I am very thankful for what they did for me. We'll see what is going to happen."
And Celtic have reiterated there was no deal in place for Van Dijk to leave, with a club spokesperson saying: "We have had a number of enquiries in relation to Virgil however we have no agreement with any club. As we have said before we do not want Virgil to leave Celtic."
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has remained tight-lipped on whether Van Dijk is on his list of signing targets.
But the St Mary's boss has made a centre-half his priority after he failed to turn Toby Alderweireld's loan into a permanent deal.
Koeman has also lost Florin Gardos to a long-term knee injury and given he has been playing with three central defenders lately, his options there are extremely limited.
Van Dijk doesn't know if Southampton have made a move and added: "I think you need to ask the board that. I don't know what is going to happen in the upcoming days but we'll see."
