Ronny Deila has told Virgil van Dijk he will not be leaving Celtic before the transfer window closes tomorrow night.

The Dutch defender was missing from the Hoops' 1-1 Premiership draw with Dundee at Dens Park amid speculation linking him with several clubs such as Saints Newcastle and Sunderland.

Celtic manager Deila was speaking after watching substitute Leigh Griffiths level a first-minute header from Dundee defender James McPake for a share of the spoils in what was another indifferent performance by the champions.

Deila, who expects to sign 24-year-old Serbian striker Stefan Scepovic from Sporting Gijon, revealed a chat with Van Dijk ended with the player being informed he is going nowhere this summer.

"He is a very important player for us and we have told him that there is no chance he is going to leave," Deila said.

'He is too important to us, so there is no chance we will let him go during this window. We couldn't replace him.

"We talked about it. He wishes to get to a new stage. He is a young player and a young man and he will get many chances in his career.

"But now we need him here and he knows that and that is how it is going to be.

"His girlfriend is also pregnant and due soon. So he hasn't had the right focus, he wouldn't have been 100 per cent today - that is why he didn't play."

Asked how Van Dijk took the news, Deila said: "I think it's no problem. But he needs a couple of days to get this out of his system, get thinking positively again."