I won’t be surprised if there is now a bidding war for McGinn
HIBS manager Neil Lennon expects English clubs to crank up their interest in John McGinn before their top-flight transfer window slams shut this coming Thursday.
After reports yesterday claimed Brighton had held talks with Hibs over the influential midfielder, the Northern Irishman confirmed that Celtic remain the only team to have submitted bids.
But Lennon, who yesterday lured striker Jamie Maclaren back to Easter Road on a season-long loan deal, believes a bidding war is now imminent for McGinn whose goal in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Asteras Tripolis in Greece helped Hibs progress to the Europa League third qualifying round.
Talks with Celtic are continuing, with the champions having tabled more than three unsuccessful offers for a player valued at £4million by his club.
On Brighton’s interest, which was first revealed by Sportsmail in April, Lennon said: ‘I don’t know if there have been discussions or not.
‘It’s just speculation but it wouldn’t surprise me. There has been no bid in from any other club apart from Celtic.
‘I’d be very surprised if there weren’t more bids for him between now and August 9 and beyond that.
‘From a personal point of view, I’m selfish and I don’t want it to happen because you can see how good he is at the minute. He is just an outstanding player.’
McGinn admits the sanctum of football has been the perfect escape from the feverish speculation about his future
But he confesses that everyday life has been challenging, with Hibs fans keen to extract any morsel of information regarding his intentions.
Still expected to join boyhood idols Celtic having entered the last year of his contract, McGinn said of the constant transfer talk: ‘It was really hard initially but when you’re on the football park, you forget.
‘You’re walking along the street and everyone is asking you.
‘It’s no bother for the first few times but then it starts getting annoying. You just want to focus on your football and keep getting better and let things happen.
‘It’s tough, I’ve never hidden from the fact there will be a time that I move on but it will have to be the right time and the right moment. But obviously that’s not come yet.
‘Football is a great place to get away from things and going over to Greece this week was amazing.
‘I’ve loved it — it’s basically getting away from all the talk.
‘You try and ignore it but sometimes it’s impossible, but it’s been good to get a couple of results over the last couple of weeks.
‘Even the boys at training just make light of it and, after one or two jokes, they just carry on as if nothing’s happened.’
Lennon has been in McGinn’s shoes as a player, after a protracted transfer saga preceded his dream switch from Leicester to Celtic in December 2000.
So the 23-year-old Scotland international is grateful for being able to confide in his manager.
The playmaker, who will now turn his attention to tomorrow’s Premiership opener against Motherwell at Easter Road, said: ‘I had a few discussions with the manager and he was great, he has been in this position himself.
‘He is a really good guy to bounce things off and he said he was in this position when he was at Leicester and wished he’d dealt with it a bit differently.
‘Thankfully I’ve taken that advice on board and I need to keep improving.
‘That’s what’s got me in this position and I want to carry that on and keep getting better as a player.’
While McGinn’s departure from Leith draws ever near, Australian international Maclaren has rejoined Hibs on a season-long loan deal from Germans SV Darmstadt 98. In his previous spell at Easter Road for the second half of last season, the striker played 15 times and scored eight goals, including a hat-trick against Rangers on the last day of the campaign.
Now the 25-year-old is delighted to be reunited with Lennon, saying: ‘A few factors drove me to come back. With the success that we had last season it just breeds confidence throughout the squad and, for me, scoring goals was important.
‘After having the World Cup experience with Australia, this is the best club for me to kick on.
‘Having a manager like Neil Lennon who backs me and every player in the squad, that’s who you want to play for.
‘And the fans have been on at me on social media since the break, so it’s nice to be wanted and valued.’
Lennon is trying to conclude a similar loan for Manchester City winger Thomas Agyepong.