Manchester United have identified Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn as a summer transfer target.
The Red Devils are working on a list of targets to pursue once they have appointed a permanent manager, and with reinforcing the midfield unit seen as a priority, the Aston Villa star has been added to the club’s summer shortlist. McGinn was Man Utd’s radar since 2019 and now they want to complete the deal and buy Scottish international.
John McGinn, 27, has become an important player for the Villans ever since arriving from Hibernian in the summer of 2018. He has made 130 appearances in all competitions, scoring 16 goals. The Scottish international’s contract at Villa Park runs until 2024, meaning this summer will likely be the last window where the Midlands outfit can get a substantial fee for the central midfielder.
Darren Fletcher, the technical director at Old Trafford, and Sir Alex Ferguson, ex-Manchester United manager, are huge admirers of McGinn’s style of play and leadership qualities. However, Aston Villa are reluctant to part ways with the 27-year-old midfielder, having sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City last summer.
Man United eyeing midfield reinforcements
Manchester United players have struggled to adapt to interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s high-intensity, aggressive and counter-pressing style of football, with results being hit and miss. They find themselves seventh in the table, five points behind fourth-placed West Ham, albeit with two games in hand.
With doing business in January proving a tad difficult, the Red Devils have seemingly started planning for the summer transfer window. They have made midfield the no.1 target due to a few players’ uncertain futures at Old Trafford.
Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard have entered the final six months of their contracts with Manchester United and are yet to decide whether they will sign an extension, meaning the midfield duo are eligible to negotiate with foreign clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement.
Nemanja Matic is well past his best and cannot cover every blade of grass as he did in his heydays, while Donny Van de Beek has considered leaving the club this month due to lack of game time. Thus, it’s clear to see why the Reds need quality additions in midfield to go beyond Fred and Scott McTominay.
Will John McGinn be a good fit at Old Trafford?
John McGinn has been a consistent performer for Aston Villa in the Premier League. A box-to-box midfielder, the diminutive Scotsman always wears his heart on his sleeves and performs. He is a tenacious, energetic and tough-tackling player who never gives up until the final blow of the whistle.
If Man United are to add McGinn among its ranks, it would offer an immediate upgrade over key central figure Fred. The ex-Hibernian man’s technical quality, doggedness, ability to break the opposition’s play and control the flow of possession from a deeper position in midfield would make him a good fit at Old Trafford.
McGinn has two years left on his current deal at Villa Park, and should he be sold in the summer, would fetch a big fee.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
