Rumour Mill: Virgil van Dijk | Ronny Deila | Malmö

VIRGIL van Dijk assesses his future at Celtic after defeat in Sweden; Ronny Deila accepts responsibility for Celtic’s Champions League defeat, plus more news and gossip in Wednesday’s Rumour Mill

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk is looking to leave the club this week. Picture: PA

Virgil van Dijk wants to move

CELTIC defender Virgil van Dijk wants to complete a move to the Premier League by the end of the week to avoid transfer deadline day uncertainty, according to reports in Dutch publication Voetbal International.

Rumours of an English move have been rife for months with clubs Southampton and Everton showing an interest in securing the player.

Van Dijk reportedly confessed on Tuesday evening that his departure from Celtic now seems inevitable following the club’s defeat to Malmö which ended the side’s Champions League campaign. (HITC/Scottish Sun)

- Southampton have reportedly renewed their interest in signing van Dijk with a £11 million deal. (Daily Record)

- Celtic boss Ronny Deila has denied that the club will need to sell Virgil van Dijk after Celtic’s Champions League campaign ended in failure on Tuesday night.

Deila reportedly added that he hoped the Dutchman would stay at Celtic Park. Despite still being under contract, the defender has favoured a move to the English Premier League according to reports. (Insidefutbol.com)

- Virgil van Dijk may now be ready to leave Celtic but he will not be joining Premier League side Arsenal, say bosses at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners were one of several English clubs who courted the Dutch defender but have reportedly conceded defeat to Southampton in landing the young player. (Daily Express)

Ronny Deila: Celtic looked ‘frightened’

CELTIC boss Ronny Deila said his side looked frightened and scared in their tie against Malmö on Tuesday evening.

The Norwegian took full responsibility for Celtic’s failure to progress in the Champions League for a second consecutive year, having made a personal guarantee that Celtic would truimph in Sweden.

Expressing his disappointment, Deila said Celtic looked like they didn’t want the ball and were ‘very frightened and scared out there.’ (The Scotsman

Darren McGregor bears no ill will to Rangers

New HIBS signing Darren McGregor has said he bears no grudges against his former club.

Ibrox Player of the Year last season, McGregor was signed up by Hibs less than 24 hours after being released from his Rangers contract.

The defender added that he was grateful for manager Mark Warburton’s honesty which allowed him to move on so swiftly. (The Scotsman)

Dundee United launch third bid for Billy McKay

DUNDEE UNITED have reportedly launched a third bid for Wigan striker Billy McKay.

United boss Jackie McNamara is looking to add a forward before the transfer window closes and has put a new six-figure deal on the table to bring McKay to Tannadice, according to reports. (Evening Telegraph)

ST JOHNSTONE sign Celtic’s Darnell Fisher on loan

St Johnstone have swooped on Celtic full-back Darnell Fisher, signing the defender on loan for the rest of the season.

Fisher has fallen down the pecking order at Parkhead, with competition from new signing Saidy Janko and Efe Ambrose to fill in for injured Mikael Lustig. (Daily Record)

NEWS IN BRIEF:

• Hamilton have agreed a deal with former QPR centre-half Jamie Sendles-White. (Daily Record)

• Kilmarnock’s Devlin Mackay is reportedly in talks with Derby and could move to England before the transfer window. (Scottish Sun)

• Hearts ended their interest in Shaun Rooney following a trail. The full-back is now being chased by Partick Thistle. (Daily Record)

• Rotherham United manager Steve Evans confirms rumours that he is interested in signing Celtic’s Callum McGregor. (Scottish Sun)