Former Celtic boss Ronny Deila admits he urged Manchester City to sign Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk joined Southampton from the Hoops before moving to Liverpool last January.

Deila told the Daily Record: "Virgil was special but when I came in I don't think he was fit. He had things to work on and in training he was lazy.

“I told him those things and that he had to work on getting 100 per cent in every session and to take care of his body.

“When he said he was going I told him not to go to Southampton or Sunderland but straight to Manchester City or United. I said to him he was that good. I told City and they regret it now. “