Celtic’s pursuit of John McGinn has taken a new turn this morning, with the club reportedly ready to offer Mikey Johnston as part of the deal on a loan basis.
That’s according to The Daily Record, who say that the Hoops have already had bids of £1.5m and £2m rejected by Hibernian this summer.
Not wanting to pay over the odds for the Scotland international, the club are now looking for ways to enhance a potential deal and ensure McGinn arrives at Celtic Park before the end of the transfer window.
The paper say that Johnston himself is open to a loan move, with St Mirren and Aberdeen also interested in his services ahead of the coming season.
The winger has certainly caught the eye this pre-season, winning plaudits from supporters for exciting cameos in friendly action. The 19-year-old has already made a handful of appearances for the Hoops, but a season of week-to-week action in Scottish Premiership side could do wonders for his development.
If such a move also helps Celtic land one of their big summer transfer targets, then that’s just a further bonus. With just a year left on his contract, there’s no point in adding millions on to what has already been bid for him recently, but utilising the squad’s depth of talent by offering Johnston makes perfect sense.
What do you make of sending Mikey Johnston on loan as part of the John McGinn deal? Tell us in the comments below…