Hibs won’t repeat McGinn mistake as Chaiwa price tag puts off Celtic – McManus

Hibernian have no intention of letting Miguel Chaiwa leave on the cheap, with former striker Tam McManus insisting the Zambian midfielder’s price tag will likely be too rich for Celtic’s blood.

Writing in his Daily Record column, McManus said reports linking Celtic boss Martin O’Neill with a move for Chaiwa are wide of the mark when it comes to what Hibs would actually accept. He suggested a fee of around £5million is “in the right ballpark” for the 24-year-old, despite figures as high as £7million having been mentioned elsewhere.

Scarred by the McGinn sale

McManus believes Hibs are determined not to repeat the mistake of selling John McGinn to Aston Villa for a modest fee back in 2018, a deal that has looked increasingly poor value as the Scotland midfielder’s career flourished south of the border.

“There’s no doubt in my mind Hibs are still scarred by selling John McGinn for a song to Aston Villa,” McManus wrote. “He went down south and the rest is history. He’s worth an absolute fortune now. There’s no chance they’ll let that happen again.”

Chaiwa arrived at Easter Road from Young Boys for around £600,000, having previously featured in the Champions League with the Swiss side. McManus described the deal as “a real coup” for Hibs and said the midfielder was outstanding last season, particularly in Hibernian’s win at Celtic Park in February, a display he believes caught the eye of O’Neill and his coaching staff, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham.

England the likelier destination

While McManus doubts Celtic will meet Hibs’ valuation, he expects Chaiwa to move on regardless this summer, most likely to a club in England. He pointed out that a fee in the region of £5million would represent small change for many Premier League and Championship clubs, and argued the midfielder has the attributes to succeed in English football.

He also noted that Hibs, like other Scottish clubs, tend to favour selling their best assets to England rather than domestic rivals, given the reluctance to strengthen sides they compete against week in, week out. Hibs recently sold striker Kieron Bowie for £6million, and McManus believes a similar offer for Chaiwa would be difficult to turn down.

Mulligan also attracting interest

McManus flagged midfielder Josh Mulligan as another Hibs player who could depart, with West Ham United reportedly showing interest. He suggested an injury Mulligan suffered in the second half of last season may inadvertently have helped Hibs retain him, but warned that a strong start to the new campaign could reignite that interest.

On Hibernian’s recruitment so far, McManus noted that only Jason Kerr and Callum Wright have arrived at Easter Road, and argued that manager David Gray still needs a “target man” to replace the physical presence lost with Bowie’s departure. He also called for another winger, suggesting Gray could switch from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 if the wide areas are strengthened.

Martin Boyle’s new one-year deal was described as a significant boost, while young forwards Owen Elding and Ante Suto were tipped for more involvement this season. McManus concluded that any fee received for Chaiwa could help fund Gray’s recruitment plans, with the manager known for prioritising genuine quality over signings for the sake of it.

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