Hibernian has lined up a replacement for their midfielder John McGinn if he decides to leave in favour of a move to Rangers this summer. According to recent reports, the Hibs have not wasted any time and appointed Stevie Mallan as a replacement for the Scottish midfielder amidst speculation linking him with a move out of the capital club.
Hibs secured the services of Mallan from Barnsley in a £175,000 deal last week. The 22-year-old featured for his new club in their 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday. In a recent interview, Mallan’s former St. Mirren and current Hibs teammate Darren McGregor weighed his thoughts on the new arrival and was quoted to have said, “The hope is that we can turn Stevie into the next John McGinn, because we’re aware that John could move on and we’ll need someone as his replacement.
“Stevie was really young when I was at St Mirren. But playing against him for Hibs, I always saw a self-confidence there.
“He would take free-kicks, demand the ball and every pass he tries to make is forward. He is always trying to break the lines.
“No disrespect to St Mirren, but this is a bigger club with a bigger support and expectations, and I think he’ll grow with that and lap it up.”
This could the ideal opportunity for the Gers to seal a move for McGinn before the midfielder moves on to sign for another club. However, it remains to be seen whether Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is prepared to reignite their interest on the Scottish midfield enforcer in this post-season.
The Scottish sensation has put in a number of match-winning performances for Hibs during the course of last season which has not gone unnoticed by other clubs. The Teddy Bears are in need of a creative force in midfield so McGinn could be a shrewd signing for them ahead of the new season.
The addition of the Scottish midfielder will definitely bolster Gerrard’s options at the Ibrox Stadium. The Light Blues have some promising midfield talents in their ranks such as Scott Arfield, Ovie Ejaria, Josh Windass and Jordan Rossiter who are all vying for a place at the centre of the park in Gerrard’s first XI. The potential acquisition of McGinn will undoubtedly improve their team significantly and add more competition for places within the Gers squad.
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At 23, the Scottish talent will only improve and has his prime years ahead of him which Rangers should look to utilise in the coming years. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of McGinn and whether he ends up plying his trade at the Ibrox before the start of the new season.
