SOMEHOW, in the midst of trying to guide Celtic to a first domestic treble in 14 years, Ronny Deila has found the time to implement some forward planning.

Prudent player recruitment will be vital if he is to steer the club back into the Champions League group stage after the disappointment of this season, when Celtic blew not one but two chances to do so. Even then, however, it is done with one eye on the longer term.

Deila does not want to bring in loan players for the sake of it. If a player is to arrive on a temporary basis it should only because they would hugely enhance the team but aren't for sale, or a clause is included in any loan arrangement that allows Celtic to buy the player at the end of it. Much to Deila's disappointment, Jason Denayer falls into the former category but not the latter.

The 19 year-old has been a revelation since arriving from Manchester City for the season. Deila brought him to Celtic because he was confident the defender would improve his team and he has been vindicated in spades. What the manager couldn't do, however, is get Denayer to make any sort of commitment to remain in Scotland beyond the end of the campaign. The Belgian has his heart set on returning to City to play alongside compatriot Vincent Kompany and, based on his performances this season, he has a more than reasonable chance of achieving that.

Deila, naturally, believes it would be in Denayer's best interests to return to Celtic for another half-season or more. There is a natural rawness about the teenager and Deila feels he would benefit playing in the Scottish Premiership alongside Virgil van Dijk, assuming the Dutchman hangs around - He sees no merit in the player going back to his parent club if he is not going to play regularly.

"Jason is doing well and is just 19 years old," said the Norwegian. "He has had a good year here and I still think he should stay here for at least half a year more. Hopefully we make it through the Champions League qualification and he can be part of that.

"To take him away and have him sitting on the bench at Manchester City would not be good for his career. I talk with Jason a lot but it's not just about us and him, it's about what Manchester City think also.

"He will go back there for pre-season but we will see what is possible after that, if we can do something. If he does well down there and starts playing at City it will be tough to get him back. He will try and do that and you never know what could happen. But if you're in a good place and are developing all the time then it's important to appreciate that and not go somewhere else and sit on the bench again. Money is not the important thing and Jason doesn't think like that. To develop, to play and get the experience is the most important thing for him."

Another player that Deila hopes will still be at Celtic next summer is Stefan Scepovic. The striker, signed for £2.3m last summer, has featured infrequently in the first team and finds himself behind Leigh Griffiths and John Guidetti in the queue for the lone striker's spot in Deila's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. But he is not on the way out yet, according to his manager.

"The story with Stefan is that we have big competition up front," added Deila. "Leigh has played well now and Guidetti also has played some good games. Stefan has some things he needs to work on and he's doing that. He will get his chance again, then he has to be ready. I have to see in training and matches that he's making improvement."

Deila was interested to hear that Martin Odegaard, his one-time teenage protégé now at Real Madrid, may be allowed to go out on loan.

"I haven't heard his situation had changed, but if it's true he's going to be loaned out then we will check and see what is possible."