Aston Villa journalist James Rushton has been sharing his thoughts on recent transfer reports linking Villa midfielder John McGinn with a move to fellow Premier League club Liverpool.
This comes after Rushton made an appearance on a recent episode of the Birmingham Mail’s Claret & Blue Podcast, where he spoke about a range of topics concerning the Midlands club.
On the topic of McGinn and recent reports linking him with a move to Anfield, Rushton had this to say on the matter.
He said: “I think if he was to go, it’d be closer to £40 million than the £20 million that was mentioned in a few reports.
“I think a lot of Liverpool fans weren’t happy with that – whatever, who cares, if you want John McGinn, you have to pay what Villa think he’s worth.
“If Villa think he’s worth £20 million, you have to pay 20 million, if Villa think he’s worth £40 million, you have to pay £40 million because they want to keep him around next season.
“If you talk about that kind of ‘heavy-metal football’, McGinn is the most heavy-metal footballer that’s ever existed – he just doesn’t stop sprinting and barging into people just doing mad combos on the pitch.
“But for me, I want him to find a fit for Villa because he’s a fantastic player to watch and if he doesn’t fit into Villa and fits better at Liverpool, Liverpool best come in with the money because we’re not going to be giving them bargains.”
Villa signed McGinn back in August 2018 from Scottish club Hibernian. Since then, the 26-year-old, who is currently valued at £27 million, has made 111 appearances for Dean Smith’s side across all competitions, in which he has managed to score 13 goals and provide 19 assists in the process (per Transfermarkt).
TIF Thoughts on James Rushton’s comments on McGinn…
Given how Matt Targett was the only outfield Villa player to play more minutes in the Premier League than McGinn last season, this suggests just how important the midfielder is for the team and how they could be reluctant to sell him this summer.
Do you think Villa would sell John McGinn this summer?
Yes
No
In our view, given how reliable McGinn has proved himself to be for Villa throughout the season, the club should do all they can to try and keep him at Villa Park.
In terms of what Rushton had to say on the matter, taking into account how McGinn still has some years left on his current contract at Villa, it does feel that only a massive transfer offer could persuade the club into selling him this summer.
In other news: ‘That’s what it’s going to cost’ – Journalist drops Jack Grealish transfer claim at Aston Villa