JOHN PICKS THE VILLANS
He’s got the Haal marks to be a star TEAM NEWS
FROM BACK PAGE in the club’s push for promotion – while he could not be given the same first-team guarantees by Rodgers as Celtic aim for an eighth successive title.
Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell tabled a £2.5m bid – with a further £500,000 in add-ons – earlier this week. It’s understood Villa matched that offer on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after being freed from a transfer embargo.
But McGinn revealed Bruce’s powers of persuasion were too strong to resist.
He said: “I’m really pleased to have joined the club. I’ve already visited Villa Park and the training ground and the set-up is incredible.
“The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind with so much going on but I can’t wait to take part in my first training session and make my debut.
“The manager was great. Me, my two agents and my family sat with Steve and had a great chat.
“He was very honest and made me feel welcome and how much he wanted me as a player. That’s a great thing to hear from a guy who’s played at the top level and coached hundreds of games as well at a high level.”
Just an hour before McGinn’s move was announced by Villa, Hibs signed his replacement Emerson Hyndman on a six-month loan from Bournemouth.
It’s a capture that THE Babyfaced Assassin reckons there is a new Norwegian star ready to shoot down defenders.
Molde boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has backed 18-year-old wonderkid Erling Braut Haaland to shrug off uncertainty over his future when he leads the line at Easter Road tonight.
Haaland, the son of former Leeds and Man City ace Alf-Inge, is weighing up a contract from Salzburg after a £6m bid was accepted.
That deal would make him the most expensive Eliteserien export, usurping John Carew.
Solskjaer said: “Erland will be involved. We have accepted a bid and he is chewing on a contract offer from them but he is one of my players.
“He is many years ahead of where I was when I was 18, I was nowhere near Erland’s level. He has the hunger, ability and attitude to go all the way in football. I have worked with him for 18 months and his development has
been unbelievable.” HIBS will be without John McGinn for the Europa League clash with Molde after Neil Lennon lost his star man to Aston Villa.
But new loan signing Emerson Hyndman could play if he receives clearance in time.
Defender Darren McGregor (knee) looks set to miss out.
Florian Kamberi has shaken off a similar knee complaint.
New signing Thomas Agyepong is awaiting a visa to find out if he can play but keeper Ofir Marciano (finger) remains sidelined. delights Hibs boss Neil Lennon who wished nothing but the best for McGinn.
He said: “We’re pleased to bring in a player of Emerson’s quality.
“John goes with everyone’s best wishes – he’s been superb on and off the pitch. He’s a joy to work with and I’ve enjoyed watching him play.
“Hibs have been good for him and John has been good for Hibs.”
Hyndman, who had a loan spell at Rangers last year, is pleased to have returned to Scotland.
He said: “I’m delighted to join Hibs. I enjoyed my previous time in Scotland – my game is well suited to the style of play here.”
But while McGinn turned his back on Celtic, Australian wonderkid Daniel Arzani arrived in Glasgow to finalise a two-year loan deal from Manchester City.
Arzani passed a medical yesterday before watching his new team-mates take on AEK Athens in last night’s Champions League qualifier at Celtic Park.
He’ll be joined at Lennoxtown by Emilio Izaguirre who is expected to complete his return after a season with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Fayh.