Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Barcelona and Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessié, in what could come as a blow to John McGinn.
It has been reported in Spain that the West Midlands side are currently weighing up a potential £12m move for the 25-year-old, with new head coach Unai Emery looking to make his mark on the side.
Kessié joined Barcelona from Italian giants AC Milan in the summer on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract at the San Siro.
The 60-time Ivory Coast international has struggled to make an impact at the Nou Camp, having played in 13 matches and providing just one assist in that time, according to Transfermarkt.
However, a move to Villa Park could be just what the box-to-box midfielder needs to reprieve his career, but not everybody at the club may be too pleased with the addition to the squad.
McGinn, who has previously been described as a “warrior” by pundit Graeme Souness, has found life tough going as of late, despite being named the club captain at the start of the campaign by former manager Steven Gerrard.
The Scotland international was dropped from the side in the first game following Gerrard’s sacking, and has started just one of Emery’s first two Premier League games in charge of the West Midlands giants.
We think that the signing of Kessié could demonstrate a huge blow to McGinn’s chances of getting back into the Villa side, and the former Hibernian man may feel his best chances of regular football may be to leave Villa Park if the Ivorian is signed this summer.
Therefore, we find it difficult to see a way in which the 52-time Scotland international gets back into this Villa side if the Barcelona star arrives in Birmingham, with the midfielder still likely to be behind Leander Dendoncker in the pecking order.