OPINION
West Brom’s opening day defeat to Bolton made it clear that Darren Moore needs to add more creativity to his midfield before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday.
The Baggies had a staggering 72 per cent possession and managed to fire 20 shots on goal, but were only able to hit the target three times.
For all the time that Moore’s men had the ball, they looked hopeless and devoid of ideas on how to break down a team that was being tipped for relegation from the Championship before the season started.
West Brom need a midfield kingpin who can take the game by the scruff of the neck, get up and down the pitch with a breeze and create chances galore. That player is Hibernian midfielder John McGinn.
According to the Scottish Sun, Aston Villa are in talks to sign McGinn, 23, after Celtic had three bids turned down by Hibs for the Scotland international.
It is understood that the Edinburgh club value the midfield maestro at £4million, however as he is in the final year of his contract, it is likely that he would cost much less than that to be on the move this summer.
Villa appear to be in the driving seat to sign the former St Mirren man, but West Brom must come in to blow their West Midlands rivals out of the water to add some much needed quality to their midfield options.
McGinn has been in stunning form in the last couple of seasons at Hibernian.
After helping Neil Lennon’s side win the Scottish Championship title and promotion to the top-flight in 2016/17, he scored six goals and supplied eight assists in 43 appearances across all competitions last season.
Not many players have been able to tear up Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in the last few years, but McGinn has managed it and he is more than suited for a move to the Championship.
If West Brom are going to make one more signing before Thursday’s deadline, McGinn should be high on the list of players that Moore should consider.