Celtic have been pursuing Hibernian midfielder John McGinn this summer.
Hibernian manager Neil Lennon has told The Scotsman that he thinks John McGinn may have to come to terms with the idea what a move to Celtic may never happen.
Hibs swooped to land McGinn from St Mirren in 2015, and he as starred with 17 goals in 133 games for the club, becoming a fan favourite at Easter Road.
The midfielder has become a Scotland international with nine caps to his name, and as one of the top players in the Scottish Premiership, he is unsurprisingly attracting interest.
The problem for Hibs is that McGinn’s contract expires next summer, and and they risk losing him for nothing unless they sell him on this summer.
The main club to be pursuing the 23-year-old is Celtic, as The Scottish Sun report that the Bhoys have now had three bids rejected for McGinn, the last of which totalled £2million.
Celtic are attempting to land McGinn in a cut-price deal given his contract situation, but Hibs are standing firm, and the situation is turning into something of a saga.
McGinn is attempting to focus on playing for Hibs despite all the speculation about his future, and manager Neil Lennon has admitted that it’s a difficult situation, and the club is attempting to manage it as best as they can.
Lennon has also told The Scotsman that Celtic simply aren’t meeting Hibs’ valuation, and that means that McGinn may have to accept that a move to Celtic Park may never materialise.
“It’s a really difficult situation for him, I’ve been in it myself,” said Lennon. “At the end of the day John is a human being, he has feelings and emotions and it almost feels as if he is a bit exposed so we are trying to manage him the best we can. The club have been really strong and I totally back that. We have our valuation, he is our top player and no club yet has met the valuation that satisfies the club. John is quite satisfied with that at the minute. I’ve had chats with him to see how he is because there will be lots of people talking to him, the agent, family, all giving him titbits of advice.”
““I think the club have made their position pretty clear to Celtic, what the club value the player at and that valuation has not been met. Listen, the deal might never happen, he has to get his head around that as well so we try to prepare him for all eventualities the best we can. He is training well so he’ll play and until that situation changes he is a Hibs player,” he added.
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