Former Celtic striker Simon Donnelly believes that John McGinn is the natural replacement for Stuart Armstrong. The Hoops midfielder is set to seal a deal to Premier League Southampton with the Parkhead side reaping a fee that will amount to £7m.

And that could mean that things start to move as Celtic look to Leith for his potential replacement. It is understood that Hibs manager Neil Lennon doesn't want to lose the midfielder whom he described as the heartbeat of his team before the club's Europa League qualifier against NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the Europa League next month. If they win that one they will come up against Asteras Tripolis of Greece in the next round. 

However, with Derby preparing to offer £3m for the player and Birmingham also believed to be in the mix for McGinn, it could be that the 23-year-old makes his exit before that game next month. It's believed that Celtic are prepared to offer Scott Allan in exchange although his personal terms could be a potential stumbling block.

In any case, former Celtic striker Donnelly expects the Parkhead club to make a move for McGinn. 

“Midfield is a strong area for Brendan Rodgers," said the former Scotland internationalist. "But I would be very surprised if they don’t go for John McGinn. I’ve said it for a while – I think he is a Celtic player.

“I was misquoted before as saying he was a successor to Scott Brown, and would be sitting on the bench.

“I don’t think that. I think he is good enough to go right into the Celtic team.

"I think he would be a good signing for them. He gets about the park.

“I’m not sure he is as quick as Stuart, but he is strong and I just think he could go in and learn under Scott Brown.

“Broony is not going to go on forever and, in the meantime, he can train and play with him.”

Meanwhile, Donnelly expects that Armstrong could make the same kind of impact south of the border that the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson have.

Donnelly was part of the management team at Dundee United with Jackie McNamara when Armstrong left Tannadice to go to Celtic with Gary Mackay-Steven and he believes that there is still more to come from the player.

"I was delighted he got the platform to go to Celtic and prove how good he was," he said. "He’s got himself in the national side, too.

“Over the next few years I think he will be one of the main players for Scotland.

“It’s going to be a learning experience at Southampton.

“Stuart will find it a big change. But I think he is good enough to go and handle himself and that pace to burn is such an important attribute.

“Look at Virgil van Dijk. He got his move to Liverpool. Andy Robertson went to Hull and did the same.

“Stuart could take off in the same way. He is 26, so he is not even at his peak.

“If he goes there and has a good season or two, he could end up with one of the top-six clubs.”