Celtic are 23-year-old Flood’s boyhood heroes and he has already described joining them as his dream move.

But Levein claims the player could end up back in the situation he found himself in at Manchester City and Cardiff.

He said: “Of course, I’m slightly biased on this, but I think Willo would be better served by staying here.

“Coming to Dundee United has been good for him and this is really the first place he’s held down a regular jersey.

“At this stage, I think he’d be better staying with us for another year or two rather than risk ending up back in the situation where he’s on the bench.

“But, if it happens, and Willo decides to go to Celtic, then I’ll thank him for what he’s done for us and wish him all the best. I can’t speak highly enough about him.”

Levein insists the uncertainty over Flood’s future will not stop him picking the midfielder in tomorrow night’s Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against Celtic.

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re planning ahead with Willo in the team. We’ve had no reason to do otherwise and it won’t affect the way we prepare,” added Levein, who insists United can cope with the loss of Flood.

“If Willo goes, it’s not the end of the world, it won’t be a disaster. We’ve lost Barry Robson and Noel Hunt, our top goal maker and our top scorer, in the last year and we’ve coped with that.

“It’s a compliment for our club that other teams are looking at our players.”

Cardiff chief executive Peter Ridsdale has told his opposite number at Celtic, Peter Lawwell, to contact him if he wants to do business over Flood.

He told the Daily Record: “If Celtic want to do a deal with Cardiff regarding Willo, they have to pick the telephone up and talk to me. I know Peter Lawwell well enough.

“I have had no contact from them at all but Willo is not someone we see regularly and I do not think the manager, Dave Jones, plans to have him in the Cardiff squad anyway.”