Insider: Aston Villa make John McGinn U-turn
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media, Marcus Rashford instagram)
Callum O'Connell
Tue 16 September 2025 15:29, UK
Aston Villa endured a turbulent summer transfer window with constant speculation surrounding their star players, according to their former senior scout.
Mick Brown, who also worked as the chief scout at Man United and Sunderland and remains very well-connected at his former clubs, exclusively told Football Insider that Unai Emery is keen to establish some stability by rewarding a key player with a new contract.
John McGinn currently has two year remaining on his deal at Villa Park, and is now set to hold talks about extending his stay in Emery’s plans.
Everton made a move for McGinn during the summer transfer window, while Football Insider revealed Newcastle opened preliminary talks with Aston Villa over a deal.
At the time, Villa were open to letting the Scotland international leave Villa Park, but there has now been a change of heart and he is seen as a crucial part of Emery’s plans for the future.
Credit: Imago
Brown told Football Insider on 15 August that Aston Villa would dismiss enquiries about McGinn given his role as a leading voice in the dressing room.
Now, the former scout who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that the midfielder committing his future would bring more stability to Villa’s squad.
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“McGinn is a very important player for Aston Villa,” he told Football Insider.
“He’s a leader and a big voice in the dressing room, the captain of the club, and the type of player the manager can rely on always to give a certain level of effort.
“He often sets the standard for his teammates, and that’s not the type of player they’re prepared to lose given the situation they’ve had over the summer.
Credit: Imago
“It would just be another disruption at a time when there’s been talk about so many of Villa’s key players and influential figures behind the scenes.
“So they’re going to look to get him tied down to a new deal to secure his future at the club, because of that stability and leadership he brings to the squad.
“It’s something they’ll sit down and talk about in the next few weeks because at the moment, there are a few concerns there that they’re going to have to address.”
Brown told Football Insider on 16 September that Emery is under pressure at Aston Villa as a result of the growing unrest behind the scenes.
Tension has been growing in the background at Villa Park as a result of their difficult transfer window, with the likes of Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins unsettled, while Jacob Ramsey completed a controversial move to Newcastle.
Crucial leaders in the dressing room including McGinn and Tyrone Mings expressed their frustration at Villa and the way the window had been handled.
Credit: Imago
Villa are keen to resolve the unrest following a difficult start to the season, with a belief that committing McGinn to a new deal will begin to stabilise the dressing room.
McGinn’s consistent displays for Villa over a number of years have earned him widespread praise, with Ian Wright previously dubbing him “magnificent”.
[via Aston Villa News]
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