Celtic transfer target and Stuart Armstrong replacement John McGinn is likely going to cost the Hoops in excess of £5million, with £2.5million up front, a footballing consultant has revealed.
Brendan Rodgers is extremely keen on the Hibernian midfielder, with the Daily Record reporting that a £1.5million bid was rejected by the Edinburgh club last week.
Now, footballing consultant Ian McGarry has stated that the Bhoys’ first bid is way below what Hibernian are likely to accept, indicating that Rodgers will have to at least triple his initial sum.
“I think the John McGinn transfer could easily cost in total around £5m, albeit just with an upfront payment of £2.5m,” McGarry stated on his podcast, as quoted by the Daily Star.
The Hoops need to replace Armstrong following his Premier League departure, and McGinn is a good option, but it does not seem that they will strike up any cheap deal.
OPINION
There is a clear solution for Celtic in this situation, that will unfold in the coming days and weeks. When (or if) Kieran Tierney gets sold, the Hoops will recoup a major sum which will go a long way as to landing the in-demand midfielder. IF what McGarry says is true, and Hibs would accept a deal that sees roughly £2.5million upfront, then it is hard to see this deal not going ahead, as Rodgers has already filed a transfer attempt much closer to that sum. McGarry does also mention that the Parkhead wage bill has gone up exponentially in recent years, and McGinn could add to this, so achieving Champions League qualification is an absolute must for the Bhoys, as missing out on the TV money that comes part and parcel with the European competition would be a disaster. The Hibs midfielder would be a worthy replacement for Armstrong, and would serve as great competition for starting roles amongst Rodgers’ side. The transfer sums are strikingly similar for those players as well, as Southampton spent a reported seven-figure-sum to lure the Scotland international away from Celtic Park, and now the Hoops must do the same to sure up the position in his absence.