SPLASH THE CASH

Lawwell will spend to aid Deila’s Euro adventures

PETER LAWWELL has vowed to back Ronny Deila in the transfer market before a fresh Celtic tilt at the Champions League.

Speaking after Deila sealed his first Scottish Premiership title as manager, the Parkhead chief executive promised new signings for the Norwegian.

Departing Hearts skipper Danny Wilson, Dundee United duo John Souttar and Nadir Ciftci and Willem II defender Mitchell Dijks are transfer targets.

With PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year Jason Denayer poised to return to Manchester City and Virgil van Dijk a target for Southampton and Sunderland, however, Lawwell admits there is work to be done before the first Champions League qualifier in mid- July.

‘Hopefully we’ll be able to go into the Champions League stronger than we are at the moment,’ he said.

‘We’ve got a very strong squad and a lot of great young players coming through, but our intention is in positions where we

feel we can strengthen. We’ll hopefully do that over the summer.’ Lawwell (pictured) added: ‘It’s never easy. We have to do it within our financial constraints. Timing is an issue — we need to get players in, preferably, before the qualifiers. But normally you can see in transfer windows that most of the business is done at the end. ‘So these are the challenges, we’ve been planning for them, we face them. ‘We’ve got a lot of experience in terms of dealing with these sorts of circumstances, but I’m really confident.’ Celtic have the option of repelling any bids for van Dijk until the end of August, when their Champions League fate becomes absolutely clear. Insisting he would rather keep the Dutchman full stop, Celtic assistant manager John Collins said: ‘Virgil has two years to go on his contract. I think he is an outstanding player and it’s a pleasure for me to coach him. ‘I’m hoping and praying we can keep him here for another year. ‘He is young, he is working at his weaknesses and he has got height, ‘He is good in the air, he has pace, he is a fantastic passer of the ball and he carries the ball well. ‘I think he has the talent to play for any team. There’s no doubt he can play at the top

level. ‘I think there would be many clubs out there who would love to have him. ‘He makes it look so easy. When the day comes when he leaves he will be very difficult to replace. ‘We’re enjoying him at the moment. ‘Every Celtic supporter will tell you he is a joy to watch and every one of his team-mates would tell you he is a joy to play with. ‘But I don’t want to talk him up and talk him out of the club.’