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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is confident the latest speculation over the future of Matt O'Riley will not affect the midfielder.
The 23-year-old has reportedly been the subject of bids from Atalanta and interest from the likes of Southampton, with a host of other Italian clubs also linked with a move.
O'Riley produced 19 goals and 18 assists last term to finish as Celtic's player of the season and a surprise omission from Denmark's Euro 2024 squad at least allowed him a period of rest that could stand him in good stead.
Rodgers is sure the former MK Dons player will go into Sunday's William Hill Premiership opener against Kilmarnock in the right place mentally as well as physically, despite constant talk over his future.
"I'm very confident it won't affect him," said Rodgers, who expects to be without Daizen Maeda against Killie. "It's not easy. That's the reality of it. But he is an ultimate professional.
"He knows he's in a good place here. I've said it before, Celtic's a place that you can leave, but you don't have to. And I think he has seen what the last three years has given him, and that progress that he's made in his career.
"He's 23, so if he gets to 35 years of age, he's got 12 more years left in his career, so he's invested in his time, in his development."
Rodgers reiterated that any offer for O'Riley should reflect the player's worth and not be cut to reflect the buyer's view of the Scottish league.
"I've known young guys in this window that I've worked with recently who've gone for say £30 million, and we get offers in for the likes of Matt, with the greatest of respect, nowhere near that," he added.
"So we don't have to sell. The club doesn't have to sell.
"We respect that there will be a a point in a young player's career at this club where he may, for financial conditions of his life, be able to improve that three to four times over. OK, but there has to be still a value to the player and not just the league. And for us he's a very valuable player.
"So until that changes, I've got every faith in his focus, his mentality, and you can see it in pre-season, his performances again are consistently very, very high. So he looks in a great place, along with the other players."
O'Riley was the subject of a failed bid from Atletico Madrid in January and admitted himself that the development affected him, but only briefly.
Rodgers said: "I think he understands that a lot of it can be gossip and speculation, and until there's something concrete there that really makes them think, then he gets on with his work.
"So I think that's a gift that he has. He's very level headed and there's no doubt that the speculation, top European teams or Premier League teams can wobble you, there's no doubt.
"But I've not seen that. I've not seen that with him at all and I think we have a lot of communication on it as well. He knows my feelings on his ability and where he's at and where he can go to but, it's like everything in life, it's all about timing."