Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn will get the summer to work on becoming a more well-rounded No.6, according to Birmingham Live.
And a number of Villa supporters have been sharing their disappointment over the news on social media.
McGinn, who played at the European Championships for Scotland this summer, has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months.
However, Birmingham Live expect the 26-year-old, on £50,000-a-week at Villa Park, to feature alongside Marvelous Nakamba in a defensive midfield role against Watford on the opening day.
Douglas Luiz is away due to his involvement in the Olympics with Brazil and the report suggests a lot rests on McGinn being defensively-minded once again.
Smith mainly tinkered between a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 system last season, with McGinn playing in an attacking midfield role on just two occasions.
Birmingham Live claimed McGinn’s threatening attacking runs in behind opposition centre-backs could now be a thing of the past.
Villa fans react
@AVFC_News shared the report on McGinn on Twitter on Thursday. This is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply…
“I beg we sack Smith soon”Credit: @OllyAVFC_”Why?? Clearly much better playing higher up the pitch”Credit: @Tomavfc15″McGinn is much better going forward IMO.”Credit: @Larterlia”McGinn is so much better carrying the ball up the pitch and arriving late into the box”Credit: @JxmesAVFC”N’Golo McGinn is not what we need lol. Sign a No. 6. I want to try McGinn at CAM again tbh he’s been good there.”Credit: @RenewedRS”A No.6 who cant recycle the ball just play Naka and Luiz man”Credit: @hayd28
In other news: ‘No Aston Villa move’ – Fabrizio Romano confirms Twitter transfer update on £16.2m-rated ace.
