Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster has paved the way for John McGinn to leave in January after admitting that the club will consider bids for their prize asset.
The Mail report that Celtic and West Ham are keeping close tabs on the central midfielder, who was the subject of failed bids from Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town last summer.
With McGinn, 23, now entering the last 18 months of his contract, Dempster concedes that any serious offer for the player will be considered by Hibs now the window is formally open.
“There will, of course, be a lot of speculation around John regarding other clubs being interested in him,” she said, as quoted by the Mail. “There was an offer in the August transfer window and John has gone from strength to strength in the subsequent period.
“It’s inevitable that when you have good people either working for you, or playing at a club, that there is going to be interest.
“It is always about weighing up our league position and what is best for us in the short and medium-term. We don’t know what the next month will bring, we don’ t have a crystal ball we might get tested. If we are tested then we will carefully consider it.”
McGinn spearheaded Hibernian’s return to the Scottish Premiership with his outstanding displays last season, in which he scored five goals and 10 assists from 37 matches during their romp to the Championship title.
He has also made an impressive start in the top flight for Neil Lennon’s side, with four goals and four assists from 28 matches in all competitions, and memorably put Celtic to the sword with two goals in their 2-2 draw at Parkhead at the end of September.
OPINION
McGinn is a class act who is comfortable on the ball in tight spaces and creates as well as finishes opportunities, and it is easy to see why he is attracting covetous glances from the Premier League big guns in addition to Celtic. Would he be a good signing for the Hoops? Undoubtedly, even though competition for places in midfield in Brendan Rodgers’ side is intense. McGinn has adapted well to the rigours of the Scottish top flight this season and looks the best player in the league outside of the two Glasgow giants. With Hibs making it clear they will sell the five-times Scotland international if they get the right offer this month, Celtic have a great chance of landing a plum player with his best years ahead of him.