Transfer News: Liverpool battle Manchester United for Aston Villa ace John McGinn
According to The Sunday Mirror (Print Edition) [h/t Liverpool Echo], Manchester United will face competition from arch-rivals Liverpool in their pursuit of Aston Villa star John McGinn in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 27-year-old is amongst the best midfielders at Villa Park and has proven himself to be a consistent performer over the years. McGinn has also established himself at the international level, impressing for Scotland at last summer’s Euros.
A central midfielder who can also play in a defensive role or on the left if needed, the Scot will address a key weakness in the Red Devils squad. Ralf Rangnick’s side has lacked the balance in midfield this season and it has come back to bite them on numerous occasions.
In McGinn, they could be landing themselves a solid player with vast experience in the English game. The Villa star isn’t just technically proficient but is also an athletic presence to boot in the middle of the pitch.
McGinn to Man Utd?
The Red Devils have been tracking the player’s progress for some time now. Now managed by Steven Gerrard, McGinn has the opportunity to learn from one of England’s greatest ever midfielders and take his game to a new level.
Liverpool too are in the fray and are keeping tabs on the midfielder’s progress. This is not good news for Man United who may not now have a free run at the player. More so, Villa are also not keen to sell the player and are looking to offer him fresh terms instead.
Jurgen Klopp’s side represents a better sporting project at this point in time and can certainly offer McGinn a better rub of the green. More so, given that Gerrard is the manager at Villa Park, it might give the Reds a direct line of contact should they decide to forge ahead with their interest.
Liverpool have an ageing but formidable midfield, unlike Man United who lack strength in numbers or ability. With Paul Pogba looking set to leave and Nemanja Matic not getting any younger, an energetic presence in midfield needs to be brought in during the summer. We can certainly do worse than McGinn.
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There are certainly players of a better profile who offer a far more glamorous option in comparison to McGinn. However, the 27-year-old is at the peak of his powers and is also a proven quantity in the English top flight.
He could become a dynamic presence for the Red Devils if used correctly. Whether his signature is something the board will pursue in the summer transfer window remains to be seen, but is good to know that the club understands that they need to be tracking a central midfielder- especially after our struggles in the park throughout this season.
