VAN DIJK CAUTIONS KT

VIRGIL VAN DIJK  has words of caution for Kieran Tierney as the Arsenal transfer saga rumbles on with the London club left with only nine days to push the proposed £25million deal over the line.

The English signing deadline is a week on Thursday at 5pm and if the Londoners can put together an acceptable offer without unrealistic add-ons they have a chance of capturing the Celtic left-back.

Two proposals so far have been booted out by the Parkhead hierarchy, the first a derisory £15million submission for a player already experienced in football at European and international level for club and country.

Van Dijk has been in a similar situation to Tierney before his £12.5million switch to Southampton in August 2015 that led to him becoming the world’s most expensive defender when Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp splashed an incredible £75million to take him to Liverpool in 2017.

The cultured back-four performer was in Ronny Deila’s team when Tierney made his baptisim for the top side as a late substitute for Emilio Izaguirre against Dundee on April 22 2015 and made an impressive start to his career with the visitors claiming three points in a hard-fought 2-1 triumph at Dens Park.

The classy Dutchman, a Champions League winner last month after the Merseysiders’ 2-0 victory over Spurs, is an admirer of the Hoops’ 22-year-old Scotland international and reckons he has the ability to make the transition from the top flight in Scotland to England.

However, Van Dijk, speaking to the Evening Times, warned: “It is not an easy step to make and you have to play well to do it.

“But he has the qualities.

”Kieran made his debut against Dundee when I was at Celtic. I scored a free-kick up there and then he came on and helped us get the win. You could tell he was a good player who would do well.”

Tierney, of course, is currently out of action with a pelvic problem following a double hernia operation in the summer and hasn’t figured in any Celtic game so far.

* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Nomme Kalju v Celtic tonight – only in your champion CQN.