Tottenham Hotspur have targeted Aston Villa and Scotland midfielder John McGinn Antonio Conte looks to strengthen his squad for European football next season, according to the ever-reliable Mike McGrath of the Daily Telegraph.
The Lowdown: McGinn heading for fifth season at Villa Park
McGinn has been a staple in Villa’s midfield since signing from Hibernian for a fee of £3m, in the summer of 2018 according to BirminghamLive.
The 27-year-old has made 145 competitive appearances for Villa since then, scoring 16 goals and setting up 22 in the process, but is reportedly wanted at Spurs by Conte this summer.
The Latest: McGinn is one of many targets
McGrath reports that the Scotland international would be one of six additions that sporting director Fabio Paratici and manager Conte would be looking to make in order to bolster Spurs’ squad, ahead of either a Champions League or Europa League campaign next term.
The Villa midfielder is on their radar with expectations that both Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks could leave the club in the summer, leaving the Lilywhite’s midfield options sparse ahead of a European campaign.
The Verdict: Squad depth but not a regular starter
Despite being a regular starter at Villa since 2018, McGinn would be unlikely to break into Conte’s midfield two, ahead of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur.
But with Villa signing Philippe Coutinho onto a permanent deal, and the desire for Steven Gerrard to add more to his squad, the West Midlands side may be willing to let McGinn leave Villa Park for a reasonable price this summer, and he would be a largely safe signing for Spurs, should they only require him as a squad depth option next season.
Described as a “workhorse” and “battler” by ex-Premier League striker Kevin Campbell to Football Insider, the £27m-rated Scot could be right up Conte’s street, so it’s no wonder the Italian head coach may be interested in luring him to N17 this off-season.