Celtic defender Virgin van Dijk talks down Arsenal interest on deadline day

Click here to catch all the deadline day action on IBTimes UK's live blog.

Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk has revealed that he will leave the club in January amid interest from several Premier League clubs.

Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for the player, but the Gunners have already signed Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal, who should assuage their problems at the back. The Celtic defender was also reported to have interested Manchester City, but has pledged his allegiance to Celtic, where he will stay until atleast the end of the season.

The defender has been an ever-present figure at Celtic, making 36 appearances for the Scottish Champions and scoring seven goals in the process.

"Interest is fine, it's always good to have people watching you but I can do nothing with interest and it looks like Celtic don't want to sell me so it looks like I'm staying here," Van Dijk said on deadline day.

"I'm happy here of course because Celtic is an amazing club and I love being here," he added.

It is likely to be a slow day for Arsenal, who have all but completed their transfer business and unless for any major developments later in the day, are expected to persist with [what] they have in their repertoire.

The Gunners have finally built some steam in the league, winning their third consecutive game for the first time this season, following a 5-0 mauling of Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

The result has taken them within a point of Manchester United and the Gunners are now level on points with Southampton, who succumbed to a shocking loss at the hands of Swansea.

Arsene Wenger is also expected to put in an enquiry for Morgan Schneiderlin or Christoph Kramer on deadline day, but neither club are willing to sell, with a deal poised to be completed in the summer, if at all.

Meanwhile, Moussa Sissoko, who has previously expressed his desire to join Arsenal, has urged the Gunners to put in a bid, with time running out in the transfer window.