Aston Villa will reportedly consider an Everton approach for John McGinn this summer if they can secure his replacement, with Harry Wilson emerging as the player who could unlock the move. The Scotland captain is wanted by Everton again after the Toffees tested Villa’s resolve with an £18million bid last summer that was turned down.
Villa’s position may shift if they can persuade Wilson to leave Fulham on a free transfer, according to reporting that says the club would be open to selling McGinn to Everton in that scenario. McGinn, 31, signed a new contract in November that runs until 2028, but the financial and squad picture is changing fast after Villa sealed Champions League qualification with a 4-2 win over Liverpool on Friday.
That result matters because Villa are now preparing for a season back among Europe’s elite, a step that often forces clubs to balance ambition with sales. McGinn has long been central to Unai Emery’s side, but he has also had spells out of the team and usually fills the right side of midfield rather than one of the two central roles Emery prefers for Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana.
Everton’s interest is easy to understand. They need a central midfielder this summer as Idrissa Gana Gueye slows down, and McGinn offers experience, energy and a proven Premier League record. In April, it was reported that Villa were looking for £20m for the midfielder, a figure that would be in line with a player who has just delivered three goals and one assist in his last three games.
The twist is Wilson. Villa are said to be weighing a free transfer move for the Fulham winger, and that is where the McGinn deal could hinge. If Emery gets the replacement he wants, the club may be willing to listen to Everton again after rejecting their £18million approach last summer.
McGinn’s future is still not settled, and the timing adds another layer. He is set to travel to North America with Scotland after the season, which means any summer decision would need to be made quickly. For Villa, the question is whether a player who has remained important to the team can be sacrificed to help with squad building and profit and sustainability concerns. For Everton, the answer is simpler: they are looking for a midfielder now, and McGinn fits the job.
