Can Nottingham Forest now avoid smashing transfer record for Hibernian’s John McGinn?

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Championship giants Nottingham Forest made a number of bids to sign John McGinn from Scottish Premiership side Hibs in the summer.

John McGinn’s price-tag continues to rise.

The highly-rated Hibernian midfielder shone again north of the border last time out, inspiring a 2-1 win away at Rangers with a stunning long-range drive.

If any Nottingham Forest fans witnessed McGinn’s latest moment of genius in Scotland’s top flight, they may be ruing their club’s failure to bring him to the City Ground during the January transfer window.

As reported by the Mail, Forest were desperate to sign last season’s Scottish Championship Player of the Year in August, but their offer of £1.5 million was well below Hibs’ valuation of their star man.

And, in the aftermath of Saturday’s Ibrox triumph, Hibs boss Neil Lennon stated that McGinn had added another million to his price tag, meaning suitors may have to stump up about £6 million to tempt the Easter Road club into a sale.

Consequently, Forest would have to smash their transfer record if they were still keen on McGinn in the summer, exceeding the £5.5 million they paid Peterborough United for Britt Assombalonga back in August 2014, as reported by the BBC.

Fortunately, however, Aitor Karanka’s side might not need the diminutive midfielder any more. Because Forest reinforced their midfield effectively during the January transfer window without spending a penny.

Experienced Championship duo Adlene Guedioura and Ben Watson arrived on frees from Middlesbrough and Watford respectively and Forest did not exactly break the bank to bring in Joe Lolley from Huddersfield Town.

McGinn, for all his talents, no longer needs to be a priority. Why would Forest overpay when they have struck so many bargains?