Aston Villa set to fend off Everton interest in McGinn

Everton are interested in Aston Villa captain John McGinn - but manager Unai Emery is in no mood to part with the influential midfielder.

David Moyes is embarking on a major squad rebuild at Everton this summer and is an admirer of 30-year-old Scotland international, who has played a pivotal role in Villa's resurgence since joining in a £2.75m deal from Hibernian in August 2018.

Emery has also made McGinn a focal point of the Villa side that played in the Champions League last season and only missed out on another campaign in Europe's elite competition on the final day of last term.

Everton are looking to strengthen their midfield despite signing Carlos Alcaraz in a £12.5m deal from Brazilian side Flamengo and securing experienced Senegal international Idrissa Gueye on a new contract until June 2026, with the option of a further year.

Moyes lost Abdoulaye Doucoure at the end of June after his contract expired.

It remains to be seen if Everton follow up initial interest in McGinn, but Villa, and Emery, currently have no wish to sell the Glasgow-born player.