John McGinn: Why move for Ibrahim Mbaye signifies end of the road for Aston Villa stalwart
John McGinn is a fan favourite at Aston Villa, but all good things must come to an end, even in football.
The 31-year-old continues to lead the Villans into battle, and with seven goals and five assists, there are no signs of the veteran Scotland international slowing down anytime soon.
However, he has long been linked with a move away from Villa Park, and the latest transfer news emerging from B6 could suggest that supporters may be left heartbroken very soon.
Villa have joined the race for PSG's Ibrahima Mbaye, who is struggling for game time at the Parc des Princes, and it could be a move that sends shockwaves through the training ground this summer.
Ibrahim Mbaye links signify a new transfer tactic at Aston Villa
It is understood that the interest in Mbaye, 18, is part of a wider transfer tactic ahead of the summer transfer window, with Emery's side planning to target much younger players.
Although the winger is relatively inexperienced, he already has Club World Cup, Champions League and Africa Cup of Nations performances under his belt, having switched allegiances to Senegal.
He became the youngest Senegalese goalscorer at AFCON when netting against Sudan back in January, and all these signs point towards a potential departure at the end of this season.
| John McGinn's 2025-26 Premier League | Stats [FotMob] |
| Minutes played | 1979 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Chances created | 37 |
| Successful dribbles | 48.6% |
| Duels won | 44.3% |
| Tackles per 90 | 1.23 |
| Possession won in final third per 90 | 0.86 |
Emery could be facing multiple departures this summer, and losing the captain would be a huge blow, as would Morgan Rogers' leaving for a Premier League rival.
Where could John McGinn end up?
Football Insider understands that Villa would accept £20million for McGinn if it helped keep Rogers at the club, and Everton are already keeping an eye on the situation.
The Toffees have previously taken an interest in the midfielder, who now often features on the right wing, and it is believed that David Moyes is a huge admirer of the Scot.
Many believe that he would want to end his career back in Scotland, having enjoyed several brilliant seasons with St Mirren and Hibernian, but there are yet to be any strong links to confirm that.
It will definitely be a sad day when McGinn's departure is confirmed. And given the club's transfer plans, it could be sooner rather than later, but the hierarchy must be sure it's the right decision.