Tosh McKinlay says Virgil van Dijk could stay at Celtic

Former Celtic defender Tosh McKinlay says it would be a blow for his old club to lose Virgil van Dijk in the summer but insists he will only leave if Ronny Deila decides to let him go.

Van Dijk was a star at the centre of the Hoops defence last year - alongside Manchester City loanee Jason Denayer - as they strolled to their fourth successive Scottish Premiership title.

Along the way, the pair played a huge part in Celtic conceding only 17 goals, the least amount given up by any side in the Scottish top flight for 96 years.

Recent reports have linked the Dutchman with a move to the Premier League, with Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat thought to be an admirer of the £10m-rated central defender.

However, former Scotland international McKinlay, who played for Celtic for five years during the 1990s, insists Parkhead boss Deila could yet have him marshalling his rearguard again next season.

Speaking at the Glasgow Taxis Charity Outing to Troon, a charity based in the city which helps under-privileged children, McKinlay said: "It would be a blow to lose the big man.

'Control'

"I was lucky enough to see George Connelly in his prime and Virgil reminds me very much of George.

"Personally, I think another season at Celtic Park would stand Virgil in very good stead, but it remains to be seen if he and the club think it is time for him to go.

"Is he ready to make that step up to the Premier League down south? I think so, but it all depends on who comes in for him. The good thing for Celtic is that they are the ones in control. They can decide whether to let him go or not because Virgil is still under contract.

"It will be their call if they want him to stay at Celtic Park for another year. I'm sure, though, that they will be sitting down over the next couple of weeks to decide what his future is going to be."

Of the charity outing, which Celtic contributed £7,000 to through the Celtic FC Foundation, McKinlay told Celtic TV: "It's another £7,000 and that takes it over the £130,000 mark so it’s absolutely fantastic what Celtic are doing.

“This is what it’s all about for me – the community – and that’s what Celtic were founded on, so it’s another great occasion and £7,000 into the coffers can’t be bad. It’s a great job that Celtic and the Foundation are doing.”

Each year around 200 drivers from Glasgow Taxis take a day off work to give roughly 500 deserving children a day trip to Troon with their families.