Expert issues emphatic verdict on John McGinn potentially joining Tottenham after exit update
Alan Hutton would "hate" to see John McGinn leave Aston Villa this summer amid reported interest from Tottenham.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Villa and Rangers defender suggested Spurs is not the best place for the 27-year-old.
This site revealed (20 June) that Aston Villa are willing to listen to offers for McGinn this summer.
According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath (18 May), the centre-midfielder is on a list of potential summer targets for Antonio Conte.
McGinn has three years remaining on his contract at Villa Park.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of the Scotland international's future, Hutton said: "Is Tottenham going to be the destination? I’m not so sure.
"I find it difficult with Villa so close to me I don’t want to see him leaving but I know how good a player he is and what he can be.
"I think they do need that number eight who can go up and down the pitch. [Yves] Bissouma can do it to a certain extent but he’s more defensive. I think all of Tottenham’s options at this moment in time are very defensive that’s the problem.
"I think they need somebody in there who can assist, who can go forward and make things happen and it’s probably the one thing that they’re possibly missing. McGinn does fit that, he can do that, he does play further forward.
"I’d hate to see him leave but I also know that he wants to play at the highest level possible so you never know it could be something that he would think about."