Report: Celtic offering Mikey Johnston loan in latest John McGinn bid

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Celtic are hoping that offering to send Mikey Johnston to Easter Road on loan will boost their hopes of signing John McGinn.

According to a report from the Daily Record, Celtic are planning to offer Hibs the chance to take Mikey Johnston on loan as they continue their attempts to try and sign John McGinn this summer.

The Record reports that the Hoops have seen two bids rejected for the 23-year-old – the second of which was worth £2 million – and Brendan Rodgers is wary of offering significantly more for the Scotland international.

That has prompted Celtic to consider a bid for McGinn which would see Johnston head to their Scottish Premiership rivals on loan. The Record adds that Hibs are amongst the 19-year-old’s considerable list of admirers, so that may perhaps hint that Neil Lennon may be open to the idea of discussing a deal.

Johnston has already made a mark in pre-season, scoring in the emphatic win over Standard Liege. Some may have perhaps expected the teenager to get more of a chance in the Bhoys first-team this coming season, but it seems to be a smart move to send him out on loan.

At Hibs, the winger can get further experience at the highest level and that should stand him in fantastic stead for what he will hope to be a long career as part of Celtic’s squad.

Meanwhile, Rodgers may be able to get one of his key targets through the door without seemingly paying an amount that he deems to be unreasonable. That would not only leave Celtic with a little more in their transfer kitty heading into the rest of the window, but it would also perhaps take some of the pressure off McGinn as he looks to make the grade at Parkhead.