West Ham United are believed to be keeping tabs on Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, ahead of a potential deal this summer.
What’s the word?
According to the Daily Mail, the Scotland international – who is currently gearing up for a crucial World Cup playoff clash against Ukraine – is ‘among the options’ that David Moyes is considering in the upcoming window, as the Hammers boss seeks to strengthen his ranks.
The east London outfit will be able to offer the 27-year-old European football next term following their Europa Conference League qualification, although the report suggests that the deal will prove ‘difficult to pull off’ such is his importance to Villa.
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A new midfield recruit is seemingly on the cards amid doubts over Tomas Soucek’s future at the London Stadium, with McGinn potentially an ideal replacement should his reported valuation of roughly £45m be met.
The next Joe Cole?
Should the £70k-per-week gem trade one claret and blue jersey for another in the coming months, he could well prove to be something of a talisman for the Irons, with the 44-cap gem potentially set to provide a real sense of magic to the club’s midfield.
A dynamic, relentless presence in the centre of the park, the former Hibernian man has proven a real favourite at Villa Park since his £2.75m switch back in 2018, having been dubbed “unreal” by fan and presenter Ty Bracey last year.
Not only does he offer the ability to drive his side up the pitch, acting as something like a midfield “throwback” for his all-action approach – as per former boss Dean Smith – the £27m-rated gem also can provide the cutting edge in the final third.
The versatile midfielder has netted nine goals and recorded 12 assists in his three Premier League campaigns to date, having already scored 12 goals for his country since making his senior international debut back in 2016.
Lethal from range – with all three of his top-flight goals in the 2021/22 campaign having come from outside the box – the Glasgow-born maestro is a simply unique asset in both midfield and attack, with his quality in the final third evoking memories of a certain Joe Cole.
Although McGinn has often played in a deeper role at club level, on the international stage he has thrived in a more advanced starting berth, carving out opportunities for his teammates with a dynamism that is akin to the aforementioned Cole.
The Englishman rose to prominence at Upton Park after bursting onto the scene at the tender age of just 17, having been tipped for a bright future throughout his time in the Hammers academy.
The playmaker – who was comfortable both on the wing, in a number ten role or in central midfield – quickly cemented himself as the club’s leading light, eventually being named captain just four years on from his first-team debut.
The creative magician is something of a cult hero at his boyhood club – having returned for a second, albeit less successful stint in the latter stages of his career – with the hope being that McGinn can replicate that talismanic presence under Moyes next term, should GSB meet the asking price.
As has been illustrated by the likes of Cole, Paolo Di Canio and Dimitri Payet, among others, the West Ham faithful thrive on seeing moments of sheer brilliance from their players, as well as witnessing those who can simply take the game by the scruff of the neck. The Villa man is of a similar ilk.
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