Virgil van Dijk: Celtic defender will not be sold in January

Celtic first-team coach John Kennedy has dismissed rumours that defender Virgil van Dijk might leave the club during the transfer window.

As Celtic embark on a January break, first-team coach John Kennedy insists that at this stage the talk of West Brom signing Virgil van Dijk is just rumours As Celtic embark on a January break, first-team coach John Kennedy insists that at this stage the talk of West Brom signing Virgil van Dijk is just rumours

The future of the central defender has been the subject of intense speculation over the last four months with West Brom joining Sunderland and Everton as the clubs reported to be interested in signing the 23-year-old.

Kennedy was speaking before Celtic headed out to Gran Canaria for their winter break, the club are using their right to postpone one of their Scottish Premier League games during January to play friendlies against PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Prague.

Kennedy told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's speculation and that has been the case all season, we got it in the summer with a lot of speculation about Virgil.

With our top players we expect the same every time the window opens but until something is firm and concrete it's just rumours but he is a massive player for us. Virgil van Dijk

"With our top players, we expect the same every time the window opens but until something is firm and concrete, it's

just rumours but he is a massive player for us. You see the quality he brings."

Kennedy also took time to praise midfielder Kris Commons, who is another Celtic player that is being linked with a move away from Celtic Park.

"He has come into the team and done very well and there is no reason why with the next game he shouldn't

stay in the team," he said.

"You take your opportunity and do well and put yourself in a good postion for the next match.

"He is still a big player for us, I know there is a lot of speculation around Kris as well but he showed his quality and the

more quality we have in our squad the better."