Aston Villa and ex-Hibs McGinn star to buy £ 50million would be a DEAL, Hanlon insists
He’s linked to moves that would make him Scotland’s most expensive player by far.
And Paul Hanlon estimates that £ 50million for John McGinn would still be money well spent.
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The former Hibs midfielder is on the radar of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for a summer change, while Manchester United are also a longtime admirer of the 26-year-old Aston Villa man. years.
And his former East Road teammate believes McGinn – one of Scotland’s top performers at the Euro – would face a step forward for ANY level.
Hanlon said, “Fifty million – that’s a good deal, eh? No one who has worked with John is surprised at how he constantly escalates.
“It’s his character, he’s humble and down to earth but he has that determination to succeed and confidence in his own abilities at the same time and you see it when he plays.
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“It really is a football fans dream, he’s the one who gets you off your seat and gets you excited and I’m sure if he got another shot he would be exactly the same player he’s at.” Aston Villa.
“I think there is a clause in terms of sales. Look, he’s a great guy and he’s been brilliant for Scotland as well.
“If he could manage to earn a blow like that, in my eyes it would be fully deserved for what he did for Aston Villa and Scotland.”
Hanlon watched what his involvement with Scotland did for McGinn’s confidence, so he expects Kevin Nisbet to be beefed up when he returns in a few weeks as well.
ROLLING IN IT Hibs braces for huge John McGinn deal if Aston Villa sells him for £ 50million
He said: “John would be an example of someone getting a huge boost playing international football, we just feel like he grew up coming back and really started.
“He’s probably done it every step of his career when he took a step, he’s got that stature and that belief in himself and I’m sure you’ll see that with Kevin’s return to Hibs as well.
“I think he will gain a lot of confidence from it, first and foremost, he will really feel at home on this international stage.
“For the manager to include him in every game and score his first goal for his country before, he will come back full of confidence and I hope that as a club we will reap the benefits.
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“You would expect interest and I’m sure Hibs as a club expects more interest.
“I’m sure if there are, they won’t be surprised at what he’s done over the summer on top of the season he’s had.
“It’s something happening in football and I’m sure club officials will have contingency plans if he leaves.”
Hanlon was on the sidelines for the Scottish squad and was called up against the Czech Republic last November.
He didn’t expect to be on Steve Clarke’s squad this summer but hasn’t given up hope for the future.
And admit it was great to watch football as a fan again for once.
He said: “It was good to feel like a fan again, it was nice to have that feeling of a fan, to hang out with friends and watch the games.
“Looking at my situation when I was on the team, there were a lot of people who pulled out when I had my chance.
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“I was delighted to have my cap and to be involved and to have won a great victory at the time.
“I knew that coming towards the end of the season, I would probably need the same to be involved.
“It was really nice to be a fan and to see the whole nation buzzing about the whole tournament.
“I just have to focus on what I’m doing every week and play well.
“The fact that he picked me a few months ago, I’m on my mind, but the level Scotland is playing, there are also a lot of players playing at the highest level of the game.
“I think the loyalty is justified given the level at which they play each week.”
Hanlon donated defibrillators to four local youth clubs as part of the foundation he formed with his teammate Lewis Stevenson.
And he admits he was horrified to watch Danish star hit Christian Eriksen during the Euros.
He said: “It was terrible. I’m sure everyone was the same looking at it. It was one of the worst things I have ever seen during a football game.
“This is an initiative that we have been implementing for some time since we created the Foundation.
“It really put the emphasis on distributing them to all the local football clubs.
“I hope they will never be used, but if they are needed we are delighted they are in place to help people.”
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