After being the subject of a six-figure bid from Nottingham Forest, Hibernian midfielder John McGinn has insisted that his is happy at Easter Road.
Hibs boss Neil Lennon confirmed in August that Forest had lodged a bid worth around £750,000 for the 22-year-old, some way short of the Scottish Premeirship side’s valuation of the midfield lynchpin.
Now at the City Ground, ex-Rangers boss Mark Warburton showed in the summer transfer window that he wasn’t afraid of utilising his links back to football north of the border to bolster out his Reds squad, but after bringing in Jason Cummings and Barrie McKay, Scotland international McGinn was just too far out of his reach.
Now, the Hibernian playmaker has made it clear that he is fully focused on where he is right now despite the transfer speculation of August.
“I’m happy where I am, enjoying my football, I feel as if I’m getting better and better and delighted to get my fourth [Scotland] cap,” said McGinn, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“I was a Hibs player before the window, I’m still a Hibs player, so that’s fine by me.”
Good move for Nottingham Forest?
Absolutely. Warburton has a knack of going back for players where he has previously come from. He did it at Rangers by signed up some of his former Brentford stars and he is doing it again now at Forest. McGinn would have found himself straight into the first-team at the City Ground. Unfortunately the bid was deemed as derisory by Lennon and ultimately that it why nothing materialised. A more realistic offer in future transfer windows may finally see Warburton get his man.
This is Futbol rating: 7/10
Likely to happen in January?
Forest now have plenty of time to evaluate their squad before the transfer window re-opens in January. On paper, it looks like their defence needs sorting out first while their central midfield options look decent. McGinn may cost a bit less in January if Hibernian’s form falters. Nottingham Forest need a good first half of the campaign to attract to Scotland international.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10