As Villa’s position in the Premier League remains extremely precarious, it’s no surprise that the transfer vultures are beginning to circle at pace.
There have been consistent links to Jack Grealish all season, with recurring interest from both Manchester United and Manchester City.
In recent days we’ve also seen Tyrone Mings also linked with Man Utd, whilst a surprise rumour to Everton emerged from nowhere midweek.
The latest transfer rumour links another of Villa’s prized assets away from B6 in the event relegation occurs…
JOHN MCGINN
The 25 year old Scottish International has been tipped for a move to Newcastle United, a switch that would see him link back up with former Villa boss Steve Bruce.
McGinn is likely to currently be on the radar of a number of sides after impressing after joining from Hibs, but it’s reported that Bruce could leverage his relationship with the player and also the lure of a Saudi takeover. The Villa midfielder had been monitored by Man Utd too, but their interest has likely cooled as their marquee players improved and their form with it.
Whilst there’s no doubt that McGinn was central to Villa’s promotion push from The Championship, it would be remiss to suggest he’s recreated the same level of form in the Premier League as consistently.
There have been a number of factors to this, not least that Villa have bought poorly, failing to support key players such as McGinn, Grealish and Mings in the process.
Secondary issues are a combination of loss of form and injury. McGinn was in a patch of poor form before sustaining what was expected to be a season ending ankle injury during a dismal home defeat to Southampton in December. The Scot sustained the injury lunging after a ball he’d lost in frustration when a decision didn’t go his way.
McGinn was of course a welcome sight when the Premier League resumed, but it was quickly apparent that he was woefully short of match fitness. Whilst his stamina has improved, it’s fair to say that the relentless engine that Villa fans have come to appreciate as the norm has yet to return.
Steve Bruce was of course the Villa manager that signed McGinn from Hibs in 2018, for what turned out to be an absolute bargain fee of £2.75m. Naturally Villa would expect a transfer sum significantly higher than this, but any relegation would of course weaken our negotiating position.
Irrelevant of the financials or indeed interest from whatever club, the risk of losing McGinn and core of a promising Villa squad represents a huge looming blow for the football club. Whether we can hang on to the Scottish international remains to be seen, but as with our chances of survival, doing so appears increasingly less certain.
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If McGinn is interested in linking back up with Bruce he had better be quick. If the buy out goes through Bruce will be gone before McGinn gets there.
Tbh I wouldn’t be that surprised . He is very close to his family and Scottish links (Hibs etc) so being a lot geographically closer may well appeal.