As reported by Daily Express, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has confirmed that the club is adamant on keeping hold of John McGinn amid speculations linking him to a move to Manchester United.
Speaking to Express, the 48-year-old said, “The big clubs can come calling but they’ll get a short, swift reply. He’s a player we want here at Aston Villa.”
And this could serve as a massive boost for the newly-promoted Premier League giants in their bid to retain top-flight status come the end of the season.
Why is John McGinn so important to Aston Villa?
McGinn has been one of Aston Villa’s most consistent performers since joining the club in a €3.1 million move from Hibernian FC last summer. The Scot’s contribution in the middle of the park was paramount in Aston Villa’s promotion winning campaign in the Championship last season, with the midfielder making 40 league appearances. He was notably involved in 16 goals.
McGinn has been able to replicate those performances in the Premier League as well, netting three goals in eight matches. He has been mainly utilised as a central midfielder alongside Jack Grealish. As a result, the Villans haven’t lacked creativity or tenacity, thus making them much more vigilant and proactive in their second line of press.
What makes McGinn such a valuable asset to the Aston Villa is his all-round qualities. He can be compared to someone like Thiago Alcantara, except he is more capable of scoring screamers. The 25-year-old has already boosted Villa’s creativity with his ability to find key passes and craft scoring opportunities in the final third.
Moreover, his ability to drift past players at ease means the Scot can effortlessly complete his side’s transition play. Not to mention, these traits become invaluable, especially for a counter-attacking team as they often receive limited amount of possession.
Can Aston Villa replace McGinn?
From the current squadron, it’s unlikely Aston Villa will be able to replace McGinn in the event of his potential departure. New signing Douglas Luiz is the designated alternative. But, the Brazilian’s inclusion into the side means Grealish will have to adhere to the characteristics of McGinn.
Other options include Henri Lansbury and Conor Hourihane, but both of them have struggled to break into the starting lineup this season. That means the Villans will have no option but to scour the market for a potential replacement. And that could be a difficult thing to do given McGinn’s skillset.
Therefore, Aston Villa should just avoid all this by trying their best in keeping hold of McGinn at least for another season as they will have to sell him sooner or later.
