Hibernian sign John McGinn on four-year deal

“John had other options, so we’re really pleased that he has chosen Hibernian and the aim is for him to achieve his career goals at our club.”

McGinn, who had recently been on trial at Owen Coyle's Houston Dynamo and attracted interest from Dundee United, said it has not taken him long to decide that a move from Paisley to Easter Road was the right one for him.  “There were other options available, but once I weighed it all up I quickly realised that Hibs was the right move for me at this stage in my career," the 20-year-old said.

“The manager is really ambitious and I wanted to be part of his plans to move Hibs forward and get the club back into the Premiership. I’m still a young player and I believe Alan Stubbs will help me to develop into becoming a better player.

Asked on Thursday if McGinn could be regarded as a replacement for Allan, who has been the subject of two rejected bids from Rangers, Stubbs said: "I can assure you the deal itself and the player himself is not in any way, shape or form a way of resignation. It's a way of confirmation. 
"It tells you which way the club is going, it's a fantastic signing for us. He is one of Scotland's brightest talents and I think it's a real coup for the club. 
"A substantial fee was paid and I think that tells you where the club is and the direction we want to go in. It epitomises the belief we all have with each other going forward. 
"There was a lot of interest from Premiership teams, America and from England. 
"As long as the medical is fine, we can hopefully get him in and get him signed as soon as possible." 
Stubbs, meanwhile, reckons he knows what is going on inside Allan's head after recalling how he handed in a transfer request during his time at Bolton. 
The defender subsequently joined Celtic in a £4m switch 12 months later in 1996. He added: "Of course I can appreciate where he is because I've been in his shoes before. I completely understand how he is getting advised at this moment in time. 
"But there were different circumstances. How? Because I wasn't going to our nearest rivals. And I went for £4million. That's how it's different. 
"When I did it, I was still there for the season and I stayed until the end of the season. I knuckled down. 
"Of course I had to contend with things but you have to go through that as a football player. Everything is not roses in the garden. 
"You have to deal with ups and downs, situations that are part of being a footballer. 
"But you learn from things. You learn from situations. 
"I'm certainly dealing with Scotty better than I was dealt with. I can tell you that." 
Hibs have refused to sell Allan to Championship title rivals Rangers but, asked if the Leith outfit would consider bids from other clubs, Stubbs added: "It's a hypothetical question. I can't answer that if no-one comes in. 
"If anything comes in, we as a club discuss it and do what is in the best interests of the football club. That is the process. 
"The transfer request doesn't change our position as a football club. We will not do business with Rangers. I don't know how clear I have to be." 
Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster, meanwhile, refused to elaborate on reports that the club shook hands on a gentlemen's agreement with Allan last summer that the player could move on if a bigger club came in for him. Dempster said: "My answer to that is that I would never discuss the content of a player contract or discussions around a player contract. 
"I'm sure you would not expect me to so I'm not going to confirm or deny any of that."