Why Steven Gerrard must do everything to sign John McGinn for Rangers
As per reports from Scottish outlet Daily Record, Rangers FC have identified Hibernian FC midfield star John McGinn as a key summer transfer target.
The report claims that the Gers have been monitoring the 23-year-old for quite some time now and newly appointed manager Steven Gerrard too has shown a keen interest in the midfielder and had sent scouts to watch him in action recently.
McGinn has been one of the biggest rising stars in Scottish football in the past couple of years. The midfielder led the Hibs to the Scottish Championship title in the 2016/17 campaign on the back of several brilliant displays, helping them achieve promotion to the top-flight.
He made 37 appearances in that successful campaign, scoring 5 times and registering 10 assists on his way to being crowned the Scottish Championship Player of the Year.
McGinn has continued his rapid rise to the top of Scottish football upon his arrival to the Premiership this season. He has produced a return of 6 goals and 8 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions in the ongoing campaign, helping the Hibs to the 4th spot in the Scottish Premiership table.
McGinn’s performance in the 2-2 draw against champions Celtic in the first half of the season remains a major highlight. His displays in the middle of the park saw him earn a nomination for the Scottish PFA Player of the Year but he was beaten to it by Celtic captain Scott Brown in the end.
A central midfielder by trade, McGinn is well known for the industry and the work-rate that he brings to the engine room in central midfield. The 23-year-old is known to be a strong tackler and is an intelligent footballer, with good reading and anticipation skills.
Technically adept with good energy and stamina, McGinn has made the box-to-box midfielder role his own for the Hibs over the past three seasons.
Rangers have a variety of options in the middle of the park, with the likes of Jason Holt, Graham Dorrans, Ryan Jack and Jordan Rossiter along with January arrival Greg Docherty and on-loan midfielder Sean Goss, who is unlikely to be signed on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
None of them has been able to perform at a level of consistency that McGinn has done this season for the Hibs and his effectiveness on both sides of the pitch means that he would be a major upgrade on the current choices that the Light Blues have in their ranks.
Young and promising, McGinn has shown a tremendous rise in stature over the past two years with the Leith club. Strong in both the defensive and attacking facets of the game, the 23-year-old has demonstrated that he possesses all the necessary traits to develop into the team’s driving force from the midfield. Go for it Stevie G!