Celtic have signed Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain permanently for £9.27million and apart from him, Scott Bain has been their only addition this summer. One of the players to have been heavily linked with the Celts during this transfer window has been Hibernian midfielder, John McGinn. McGinn is in the final year of his contract at the Easter Road outfit and an extension is unlikely.
As per one of the latest reports by The Scottish Sun, Hibernian have rejected a bid of £2million from Brendan Rodgers’ camp. Previously, the Bhoys had tabled bids of £1.5million and £1.75million but the Hibs have slapped a price tag of £4million on McGinn’s collar. They are adamant to stick to their valuation but apparently, Celtic are desperately trying to sign him for cheap.
In all fairness, it is probably about time for Rodgers to come to a conclusion and lure the 23-year-old to the Celtic Park by meeting his asking price. The Glasgow giants, under the tutelage of Rodgers, managed to bag the domestic treble once again last season and apart from maintaining their domestic superiority, they must better their credentials in the Champions League this season.
McGinn is predominantly a no.8 and has the required pace and power to drive the ball forward to create openings for his side. He is very good at keeping possession and his ability to read the game meticulously should come in handy for Celtic. He has the element of trickery in his playing style as he twists and turns with the ball in an intriguing manner and his passing is one of his strongest suits.
The former Liverpool boss does have numerous options to cater to his side’s midfield needs but he wants to lessen the impact of Stuart Armstrong’s departure to Southampton this summer. McGinn’s dribbling skills are exemplary and during his time with St Mirren and Hibernian, he has accumulated truckloads of experience under his belt and is arguably on the verge of becoming a finished package.
Rangers have been very busy this summer as Steven Gerrard has made a number of quality signings to beef up the arsenal that he inherited at the Ibrox Stadium. The competition in the domestic scene is expected to be tougher this time around. If Celtic manage to get hold of McGinn within a few days, it would help him in acclimatizing with Rodgers’ tactical nous and there is no denying that he would be a worthy investment.