Scott Brown has stepped into the debate about John McGinn- and it could cost Celtic more money.
The hoops have had two bids for the midfielder rejected by Hibs despite McGinn being in the final year of his contract.
Brown’s £4m move from Hibs to Celtic in 2007 remains the record transfer fee between two Scottish clubs with the Edinburgh side holding out for a similar deal.
Celtic could hold off from making a bid- agree a pre-contract deal in January- and pick up McGinn for free next summer with the clock starting to tick down on the player’s Easter Road deal.
Lots of Celtic fans struggle to see where the former St Mirren man would fit into Brendan Rodgers’ midfield but Brown is in no doubt about the quality Celtic are chasing.
“When I was John’s age, I was a totally different player to him,” the Celtic skipper recalled to The Sun.
“I just ran about smashing people, so John’s got a lot more than I had at that age.
“I’ve matured into playing central midfield and sitting in front of the back four.
“John’s still got that energy to go from box to box. When he has that, he might as well use it to his full ability.”
Brown added: “It’s always going to be a battle playing against him. I’m very surprised at how he plays. He gets the ball and drives forward.
“He’s done it with Scotland as well. He’s taken Hibs by the scruff of the neck and strolled through most games in the Premiership last season.
“He wants to fight, he wants to battle. He’s one of the strongest ones there is. Everyone says you would want him beside you rather than against you.
“He’s got a great left foot, he’s strong, he wants to win the ball back. He also has a goal in him, so he has pretty much everything.”
Neil Lennon will have to decide whether or not to take McGinn to his side’s Europa League tie against NSI Runavik of the Faroes.
If the midfielder plays in a qualifier he would be ineligible to play in any Champions League qualifiers although he could play in the group stage if Celtic get that far.
