Nottingham Forest are interestd in £5m-rated Hibs midfielder John McGinn – but will Celtic make such a bid?
John McGinn is set to be a man in demand once again when the January transfer window creaks open in two months’ time.
The 22-year-old midfielder had already besotted more than a few scouts with his excellent performances for Hibernian in 2016/17, winning the Scottish Championship’s Player of the Year award after inspiring the Edinburgh giants to promotion.
And the fact that McGinn has taken to life in the top tier like a duck to water means interest, not to mention his price tag, has increased. Nottingham Forest are understood to be interested in a player who Hibs manager Neil Lennon beleives is worth at least £5 million, per the Nottingham Post.
The report adds that Forest made three bids in the summer, the final one reaching £2 million, and their aggressive pursuit means another approach in January can be expected. Whether Mark Warburton’s side will offer a fee just £500,000 shy of their club-record signing of Britt Assombalonga, however, remains to be seen.
Consequently, January should provide a test of how much Scottish champions Celtic want the highly-rated playmaker.
The Daily Record reported in May that Brendan Rodgers’ side were keen and McGinn has been heavily linked ever since. Though, at the time, The Hoops were understood to be willing to pay just £1.5 million.
£3.5m more
With Hibs playing hardball, however, Celtic may have to make McGinn the fifth most expensive player in the club’s history, behind Chris Sutton, John Hartson, Neil Lennon himself (below) and Eyal Berkovic.
McGinn’s stunning, two-goal performance in Hibs’ 2-2 draw at Parkhead prior to the international break, though, should have made clear to Celtic that it would be money well spent.
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