Arsenal plan £8m Virgil van Dijk swoop

Virgil van Dijk: wanted by Arsenal. Picture: Jane Barlow

ARSENAL are understood to be preparing an £8 million January bid for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk.

Arsene Wenger sent his scouts to run the rule over the Dutch centre half in Celtic’s Europa League clash with Dinamo Zagreb, and received a glowing report.

The former Groningen defender had been linked with Sunderland and Southampton during the summer, with the Hoops knocking back all offers for the 23-year-old.

Van Dijk was left out of the squad that drew 1-1 with Dundee after Ronny Deila felt deadline day speculation may have unsettled the Dutchman.

However, van Dijk has insisted that he was not looking for a move away from Celtic in the summer, and remains committed to the Parkhead club - but hinted that he would have moved if it had been to a Champions League club.

Celtic have already suggested they are in no hurry to sell their prize assets, after Fraser Forster joined Southampton for £10 million.

But Arsenal could test Celtic’s resolve with a large bid in January.