Inside Celtic John McGinn transfer near miss as brother Paul gives insight
The fact Celtic missed out on John McGinn before he headed for Aston Villa is well known in Scottish football.
The boyhood Hoops fan had been impressing for Hibs and was more than ready for a big move somewhere. it was widely expected he would head for Parkhead, where his grandad was a former chairman, and there was a reported interest from the club in the midfielder.
But Celts dithered, Villa came in with a £3.5million offer and the rest is history. McGinn helped the Midlands side win promotion back to the Premier League and has now captained them to the Champions League after a brilliant campaign last season.
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The £3.5m fee, which Celtic reportedly baulked at, is seen is one of the biggest bargains in recent times and he has previously been linked with moves to the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United. It can't be argued it was a misstep from the Hoops.
Speaking on Open Goal, brother Paul was asked if he had envisioned John getting to the level he has. He admitted: "No, you wouldn’t have.
"I remember watching the games against Celtic and thinking 'surely they are going to take him as a no-risk (signing)'. He has done really well against them. This is a no risk.
“Down south with Aston Villa, they were still in the Championship at the time. I think they were mid-table, but they made a right few good signings. That American came in (Co-owner Wes Edens) and I thought he has got a right chance now, even then, every year the money you spend, to be at the top of your game for that long is unbelievable. It’s so tough. You never had seen it (McGinn’s rise). I thought he might have played in the Premier League, but been a bit part."
Asked if he was trying to persuade his brother to head for the Hoops, the Motherwell defender said: “Not really getting that involved. That was basically what we thought was going to happen because it was only Celtic that were in really. I think Celtic had wind of that as well.
"I remember the agents saying that if Villa get the transfer embargo sorted, then they are coming in. I don’t know if they thought that was maybe agent talk or something. He (my grandad) was chairman (at Celtic).”