Celtic captain Scott Brown has told John McGinn to be patient as the Scotland internationalist stands poised on the brink of a move to the Parkhead side.

Brown and McGinn share a friendship and the Hoops captain has been able to offer some words of wisdom over the last few weeks as Hibs and Celtic have been locked in negotiations for the 23-year-old.

Celtic have had two formal bids rebuffed by the Easter Road side but it seems inevitable that a deal will be struck before the window closes. Hibs have made it known that their valuation of the player sits at £4m but it’s believed that with the possibility of Scott Allan going back to Neil Lennon’s side that could come down somewhat.

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers calls for patience as he seeks to bolster squad

In any case, Brown is optimistic that a deal will be done to secure the services of a player whom he insisted he would rather play alongside than play against.

“John is fantastic,” said Brown. “Everyone knows how good a player he is. Whatever happens will happen.

“I was in John’s situation a good few years ago, so I know how he is feeling. He is still a Hibs player just now and has to continue doing what he is doing.

“He just has to take a back step and let the clubs deal with it. He just has to carry on with what he’s doing because that’s why clubs want to sign him. He is a top quality player.

“We get on really well off the park. It’s always harder to play against your mates, more than anything.

“It’s always going to be a battle playing against him. I’m very surprised at how he plays. He gets the ball and drives forward.

“He’s done it with Scotland as well. He has taken Hibs by the scruff of the neck and stroll through most of the games in the Premiership last season.

“He wants to fight, he wants to battle. He’s one of the strongest ones there is. Everyone says you would want him beside you rather than against you.

“He’s got a great left foot, he’s strong, he wants to win the ball back. He also has a goal in him, so he has pretty much everything you need.”

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reluctant to let Mikey Johnston out on loan just yet​

There has been some chat that in the long-term McGinn could be Brown’s successor at Celtic although of more immediate note could be the vacant spot left by Stuart Armstrong. In any case Brown joked that it is McGinn who was quick to move into his shoes in the national team.

Joking aside, though, the Celtic skipper has insisted that McGinnis better all-round player now than what Brown himself was at the same age.

“He’s already done that with Scotland!” joked Brown when asked if McGinn could take over from him in the Celtic midfield. “When I was John’s age, I was a totally different player to him.

“I just ran about smashing people. John’s got a lot more than I had at that age. I’ve matured into playing central midfield and sitting in front of the back four more.

“John’s still got that energy to go from box to box. When he has that, he might as well use it to his full ability.

I think a lot of people were surprised he got in the [Scotland] squad ahead of more experienced players at Aberdeen and elsewhere. But, by far, he shone.

Read more: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers calls for patience as he seeks to bolster squad

“In his first game at Hampden against Denmark he played alongside me. He was outstanding and got man of the match. He is willing to learn, which is part of the battle, so he is going to improve.”

At 23, the best is still to come from McGinn and Brown has insisted that there is no better place to improve than under the tutorage of Brendan Rodgers.

“The manager makes everyone a better player,” said Brown. “He’s been around top quality players for most of his management career so you are always going to learn from him.

“No matter what, the changes of formation, the changes of style we play, will probably suit John more than anything.”

Hibs are holding out for the best deal they can get for McGinn but the player himself ha intimated that he wishes to make the move to Celtic. With the player out of contract next summer this will be the last chances for the Leith side to cash in on McGinn although Brown can appreciate why they are trying to get the best possible price for him.

“Every club wants to make as much money as they can from a top quality player,” he said. "Even though he’s only got a year left on his deal, they want to get as much cash as they possibly can and quite rightly so.

“It’s up to our club and Hibs. If he does come, it will be a great move for him.”