Sunderland should take advantage of Celtic dawdling and make final John McGinn move

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Sunderland and Celtic have both been linked with Hibernian star John McGinn.

The smart money would have been on Celtic landing John McGinn this summer. After all, Bhoys manager Brendan Rodgers has hardly hidden his admiration for the Hibernian midfielder.

In the aftermath of Hibs’ Scottish Cup clash with Edinburgh rivals Hearts last season, Rodgers lauded McGinn’s work-rate and technically ability while putting the cherry on the cake by claiming he was ‘the type of player you love as a manager’, as reported by the Scottish Sun.

The highly-rated McGinn has won three caps for Scotland

And though the Scottish Sun reported that Ipswich Town were keen, even making an opening offer of £1.2 million for the 2016/17 Scottish Championship Player of the Year, Celtic always appeared the favourites. The report even claims that Rodgers views McGinn, an all-action, all-round central midfielder, as a long-term successor for legendary captain Scott Brown.

However, Celtic should remember that they cannot afford to be complacent. With the Daily Record claiming that McGinn could be available for as little as £1.5 million this summer, he is within budget for a number of English sides in need of a creative presence in their midfield.

Last chance

One of which is undoubtedly Sunderland. The Daily Mail reported at the end of last season that then Black Cats boss David Moyes had travelled to Hibs’ Easter Road to watch his potential investment in action.

And though the dour Scot resigned two months ago, current incumbent Simon Grayson is facing the same problem – an alarming lack of creativity and energy in central midfield.

However, the cash-strapped Wearsiders are unlikely to come across another player with McGinn’s potential for a fee as low as £1.5 million.

Therefore, with Celtic no further forward in their interest, completing a deal for 19-year-old Ipswich Town phenomenon Kundai Benyu instead, Sunderland should make one last attempt to nab McGinn from under their nose.