For a club apparently keen to keep hold of their player Hibs are talking a lot about Celtic’s interest in John McGinn.
Declining offers and moving on is usually the best way to manage a difficult situation but yesterday Neil Lennon was happy to open up about the current state of play.
Like his fellow Irishman Brendan Rodgers, the Hibs boss is happy to steer clear of the negotiations around McGinn with that side being handled by the two boardrooms.
The former St Mirren midfielder is unlikely to down tools like Virgil van Dijk but increasingly word seems to be getting out that McGinn could sit tight, run down his contract and add £1m to his signing on fee as Hibs miss out completely.
Speaking to The Sun Lennon said: “It’s a really difficult situation for him. I’ve been in it myself. The deal might never happen, and he has to get his head around that.
“We try to prepare him for all eventualities the best we can. He’s training well, he’ll play against Asteras and until the situation changes he’s a Hibs player.
“The club have been really strong and I totally back that. We have our valuation, he’s our top player and no club yet has met the valuation that satisfies the club.
“I don’t deal with the money side of things, thankfully. I leave that to people smarter than me but I think the club have made their position pretty clear to Celtic about what they value the player at.
“I don’t get involved because I work for the club. The board and Leeann Dempster are in charge, they run the club and to be fair to them they’ve run it pretty well recently. They’ve taken a really strong position on this and they’re right to do that.
“But at the end of the day John’s a human being, he has feelings and emotions and it almost feels as if he’s a bit exposed. We’re trying to manage him the best we can.
“John is quite satisfied with that at the minute but I’ve had chats with him to see how he is, because there will be people talking to him — the agent, his family giving him bits of advice.
“I’ve been in that situation so I know how difficult it can be getting messages from here, there and everywhere.”
McGinn is expected to be in the thick of the action tonight for Hibs in their Europa League qualifier against Greek side Asteras Tripolis.