LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer Transfer News

‘Box-to-box aggression’: Souness thinks one reported Newcastle target may become available

rangers, liverpool, gerrard
Matthew Ashton/Corbis via Getty Images
Follow us on Google Discover
Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images

Graeme Souness has suggested in The Times that Aston Villa may struggle to keep hold of reported Newcastle United target John McGinn.

The former Newcastle manager rates his Scottish compatriot highly, and has pointed out that he does a lot of the unseen work for the Villans.

Souness has stated that Villa have missed the 25-year-old Scotland international midfielder when he has been injured this season, and believes that if he plays well like he did earlier in the campaign, then Villa may not be able to keep hold of him beyond the summer.

According to The Daily Star in late April, Newcastle manager Steve Bruce wants to sign the former Hibernian star in the summer transfer window, having worked with him when he was in charge of Villa.


Souness wrote in The Times: “There is no doubt they missed John McGinn after he fractured his ankle. A lot of fuss is made of Jack Grealish, but McGinn does a lot of the unseen work, the box-to-box aggression, whereas Grealish attracts more attention because he spends more time running with the ball.

“If McGinn comes back and plays like he did at the start of the season it could help them survive, but they also may find it difficult to hold on to him when the transfer window opens.”

Good signing for Newcastle United?

McGinn has been superb for Villa this season, and him returning to full fitness will be a massive boost to the Villans’ chances of escaping the drop to the Championship.

Newcastle are a massive club and are well established in the Premier League, and the Scotland international could find the Magpies very appealing and attractive.

McGinn’s dynamism and obvious quality in the middle of the park would make the Magpies a better team.

John McGinn of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Leicester City at Villa Park on December 08, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)