McGinn was 'desperate' to join Celtic

[Getty Images] Scotland star John McGinn says he was "desperate" to join Celtic in the summer of 2018 before eventually leaving Hibernian for Aston Villa. Midfielder McGinn has established himself as a key Premier League figure for Villa, becoming club captain and winning the Europa League last season, leaving Celtic to rue what might have been. The 31-year-old grew up as a Celtic supporter and his grandfather Jack was the club's chairman from 1986 to 1991. Celtic had multiple bids turned down by Hibs and McGinn believes there was a degree of complacency in the way the Parkhead club approached the transfer. "If he wasn't my grandpa and I wasn't a Celtic fan, I probably would be a Celtic player," McGinn told The Overlap podcast. "They felt because I was a Celtic fan, it would just happen. Nobody else would come in and Hibs would crumble. "Hibs were amazing. They said 'We're not going to stand in your way, but they need to pay us what you're worth.' "I gave them my word that I'd wait until they pay what I worth and it never got there. It was two or three million. "They actually phoned my grandpa to try to influence me, but he had a good relationship with both sides. He trusted me and my agent and he said 'It's nothing to do with me, if you've got the money, pay the money.' "It went on for months. I met Brendan [Rodgers]. I was desperate to go to Celtic."