John McGinn insider can't believe Celtic baulked, Dortmund handed Champions League boost - Parkhead news bulletin

Paul McGinn still can't believe Celtic didn't press ahead to sign his brother John when they had the chance.

But he reckons it's worked out for the best after watching his meteoric rise to the Premier League close up. Celtic infamously decided against a £3.5m bid for McGinn while he was at Hibs, and their loss was Aston Villa's gain. They swooped in and he became a key player in their return to the top flight, where he's remained a top player ever since.

Now he's the captain and has started every game so far, Villa winning four league games out of five under Unai Emery. It could all have been so different and older brother, Motherwell defender Paul, spoke to Open Goal about his career, and the crossroads that took him to Villa Park.

"You wouldn’t have imagined (his rise to the top)," he said. "I remember watching the games against Celtic and thinking 'surely they are going to take him as a no-risk signing'. He has done really well against them. This is a no risk. Down south with Aston Villa, they were still in the Championship at the time. I think they were mid-table, but they made a right few good signings.

"That American came in (co-owner Wes Edens) and I thought he has got a right chance now, even then. To be at the top of your game for that long is unbelievable. It’s so tough. You never had seen it (McGinn’s rise). I thought he might have played in the Premier League, but been a bit part."

But did he press him to sign for Celtic instead? He said: “Not really getting that involved. That was basically what we thought was going to happen because it was only Celtic that were in really. I think Celtic had wind of that as well. I remember the agents saying that if Villa get the transfer embargo sorted, then they are