By Alan Hutton

13th Sep, 2019 | 1:58pm

Alan Hutton Exclusive: I've heard top-4 clubs 'sniffing about' Aston Villa player

EXCLUSIVE

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn is attracting interest from top-four Premier League clubs.

That is according to new Football Insider pundit Alan Hutton, who has provided insight about his fellow Scot in an exclusive interview with correspondent Russell Edge.

The 24-year-old has emerged as the star player at Villa since signing from Hibernian in the summer of last year for a cut-price fee of £3million.

“I think he could go to a top-four side, he’s got everything,” Hutton told Football Insider. “You just have to watch him – he’s infectious, he’s such a good guy, such a nice guy and so grounded that that makes you want him to do well.

“In the summer I heard that those (top-four) clubs could be sniffing about him so it doesn’t surprise me one bit. If he keeps going the way he is, the sky’s the limit for him.”

Hutton explained how McGinn’s calibre has surprised the Villa squad after he learned his trade in the Scottish Championship before one campaign in the Premiership.

“No disrespect to anybody but they probably didn’t know him inside and out because if you’re playing down south and your from down here, are you really watching Scottish football? Probably not,” he explained.

“I think they would be surprised at how good he was and how well he has taken to the league.”

McGinn scored on his Premier League debut on the opening day of the season and has started all four of Villa’s matches back in the top flight.

He has made 48 appearances for the Midlands giants in all competitions, scoring eight goals as well as supplying 11 assists from central midfield.

In other Aston Villa news, it can be REVEALED that Dean Smith has given the green light for the club to sell one of his signings.