Tottenham Hotspur transfer target, John McGinn, has been appointed as the new captain of Aston Villa, with Tyrone Mings stripped of the role.
Steven Gerrard, who was appointed Villa boss last November, has decided, heading into his first full season in charge, to hand the armband to his all-action midfielder.
McGinn is a key player for Villa and perhaps the most popular player with the supporters, after the sale of Jack Grealish last summer.
When Gerrard was hinting at possibly bringing in a new face to lead the club’s line last season and replace his £20 million defender (BBC Sport), the majority of fans were pushing towards either McGinn or goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez.
But it’s McGinn who will now hold such a pivotal role for the club and perhaps shutdown any rumoured interest in the 27-year-old this summer.
TOTTENHAM NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE
It has been reported this summer that Antonio Conte’s Tottenham are lining up a move for McGinn – but it’s probably high time they looked elsewhere.
Spurs are a Champions League club and will feel that type of pull would lure the Scotland international towards their direction, but Villa have ambitions of their own and their newly-appointed captain is at the heart of it.
The Midlands side have proved that if they are going to part ways with such crucial players, then it’s going to be for some serious, serious dough, like Grealish’s British record £100 million transfer.
And, in truth, with Daniel Levy running Tottenham’s ship, they aren’t going to spend such money on a player in a million years.
Nonetheless, with McGinn being handed the captain’s role, it will be interesting to see if he signs a new deal – his current one was signed in 2020 and expires in 2025.
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