CELTIC have had a £1.5million bid for midfielder John McGinn rejected by Hibs.
However, Brendan Rodgers is likely to come back in for the 23-year-old Scotland international who is out of contract next summer.
The Easter Road side have already knocked back advances from Championship duo Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest for their most prized asset.
Rodgers has spoken publicly about his admiration for the player, though, and the Hoops made an official approach last night.
McGinn, a grandson of former Parkhead chairman Jack McGinn, is rated in the £5million class by the Edinburgh outfit’s gaffer Neil Lennon.
CRUNCH…Hibs midfielder John McGinn challenges Celtic defender Kieran Tierney. Pic: Geo.
But, considering the player’s contract situation, the club are likely to accept significantly less. The combative middle-of-the-park operator will be free to talk to interested clubs in January and Hibs know they are running the risk of the player leaving for free in a year’s time.
Ex-Bhoys manager Lennon has already expressed an interest in signing Scott Allan on a permanent deal following the midfielder’s impressive loan spell in the second half of the campaign with the Leith men.
Rodgers might be prepared to part with the 26-year-old as part of a package for McGinn.
Allan, who was signed by Ronny Deila from Hibs in August 2015 for a bargain £300,000, has failed to hold down a settled place in the first team squad.
He was loaned to Rotherham two years ago and started last season with Dundee before his switch to Lennon’s side.
The much-travelled playmaker, who started his career at Dundee United in 2010 before moving to West Brom two years later, is eager for game-time and has already made an appearance in the Hoops’ Austrian tour.
Rodgers will make another attempt to land McGinn and will hope to have the matter resolved before the end of the August transfer window.
The Irishman has also been linked with a loan move for Liverpool winger Harry Wilson, who spent the latter part of last term at Hull City.
The 21-year-old attacker would be a ready-made replacement for Patrick Roberts, who has returned to Manchester City after his successful temporary spell at Parkhead.
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