John McGinn to Celtic transfer collapse debated as insider claims Brendan Rodgers 'wasn't convinced' of talent

Celtic interest in John McGinn has been revisited as the Aston Villa star prepares to earn his 50th cap for Scotland.

The midfielder is set to enter the nation's footballing Hall of Fame when he stands in as captain for tonight's match against Republic of Ireland at Hampden. He moved to Villa in 2018 and Steven Gerrard has named him as captain, but Celtic tried and failed to snap him up four summer transfer windows ago while Brendan Rodgers was manager.

It's on the mind of Hoops hero Peter Grant, who has debated the failed transfer on Sportsound with another ex-Parkhead star, John Collins. Grant asked the former Celtic number two and Hibs boss: "People talk about the Celtic scenario and them missing out on John. That was always my worry for John when Brendan was there, that Brendan Rodgers didn't push the boat out as he didn't think he was technically good enough to play in his side.

"So it wasn't the fact that Celtic didn't want him, it was maybe the fact Brendan perhaps thought he'd slow the game down or technically wasn't as good. Do you think that's maybe one of the reason they never pushed the boat out on him?"

Collins replied: "I would like to think Brendan really wanted him. You had Scott Brown at that stage and Callum McGregor. Would he have knocked Scott Brown, Callum McGregor out the team?

"The answer is probably no at that time. Brendan's probably made the decision that he would like him, but not desperate for him."

Grant responded: "I think it's made him grow as a young man having that opportunity to go to England. But I felt at that time, Brendan wasn't really convinced John could improve his midfield from the technical point of view."

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