BIG JAN WARNS VIRGIL

The Dutchman reckons his countryman shouldn’t be in a rush to quit the SPFL champions while he still has two years of his contract to run.

Vennegoor of Hesselink, who is now scouting for
 Feyenoord, said: “When I speak to players from Holland who were at Celtic or Rangers, they all say they had a great time here.

“Sometimes you look where they moved on to and some go really high then go back down again.

“Van Dijk has to choose a stable club and one that is good for his development.

“He needs a team that can maybe help him become a regular in the Dutch squad.

“Sometimes when you play in a better league against better strikers, you get lifted as a player. But I would warn him that the grass is not always greener.”

The former international frontman discovered that in 2009 when he left the Hoops to join Hull in England’s top flight.

After challenging for honours every season with Celtic, he found it a culture shock battling against the drop.

He added: “When he stops playing, Van Dijk will realise he played for a really big club in Celtic.

“I joined Hull at 30 and it was all about the experience of the Premier League. I loved playing in all the big stadiums.

“But at Celtic you have good players around you and you play for trophies. You also get to enjoy
European football.

“Then I went Hull where I was fighting again to make myself known.

“It was a different mindset and it is not always easy to adapt again.”