January hasn’t even closed its curtains for another year yet Manchester United seem to be planning for the summer already.
There have been few occasions in the past decade or so when the Old Trafford hierarchy have actually looked at the future.
The stadium still needs renovation, the managerial hot seat still needs filling permanently, the squad still needs sorting.
However, the hierarchy has clearly begun to see the error of its ways as it aims to iron out the creases in the organisation’s folds.
According to the Telegraph, John McGinn’s name has a big red circle around it in terms of summer transfer window targets.
Midfield is an area the Red Devils needed to improve long before Ralf Rangnick’s appointment, with most of his predecessors failing to solve that particular issue.
Weighing up the pros and cons
McGinn would be an excellent coup by the chain of command, a player who has built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most tenacious central patrollers.
The 27-year-old is still contracted to Aston Villa until 2024, meaning snaffling him from beneath Steven Gerrard’s nose won’t be easy.
A bid of about £40m (Telegraph) would be required to even tempt Villa into allowing their number seven to join United.
The player might be reluctant to exchange Villa Park anyway considering few dreams are being lived out at the Theatre of Dreams.
However, there would be clear incentives behind such a move.
Why would McGinn join United?
United would undoubtedly be able to offer McGinn more money, not to mention European football, depending on their league finish.
The former Hibernian man could also link up with a player he has admitted to wanting to play alongside before.
During an interview with Graham Hunter last August, McGinn was asked which member of the Scotland team he would like to see signed by Villa.
He said: “That could be a number of people. Most like to sign? I hope nobody at Villa will be offended by this.
“I’ll go with big (Scott) McTominay. I’m not choosing between (Kieran) Tierney and (Andy) Robertson because that will (cause) a debate.
“(Scott) didn’t really play right away (for Scotland) but he didn’t complain, not one bit. He wasn’t like ‘I’m McTominay, I play for Man U.’ Now we’re seeing rewards of not only how versatile he is, but he’s an incredible athlete and an incredible player. So if we could have him at Villa beside me, that would be nice.”
Scottish connection
Clearly, McGinn holds McTominay in high regard. The pair have been in the same barracks for the Tartan Army since 2018 but also share a strong rivalry at club level.
Putting the two together domestically would certainly benefit United as they are a group still lacking in unity.
This potential partnership may have to wait until next season, yet surely it would be worth the patient approach.
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