Aston Villa chief Christian Purslow has described John McGinn as the template for future signings at the Premier League new boys.
The Scotland midfielder played a starring – and scoring – role in Monday’s playoff win over Derby County that rocketed Villa into England’s top flight.
And Purslow, who labelled McGinn an "absolute gem", is delighted to have signed the 24-year-old for just £2.75million from Hibs last summer.
The Villa chief exec insists both he and manager Dean Smith will search for players who demonstrate similar qualities this summer as the club prepare for their return the Premier League .
He said: “John McGinn, that is a model signing for Aston Villa; age, hunger ands the most important word out the lot, which is quality.
“He is an incredibly influential figure around he team because he exudes positivity, loves playing for our football club - so that rubs off on other players.
“If we can find players of that ilk: age, profile, quality, character - that’s the perfect Aston Villa signing.
“We said it recently, we thank Steve Bruce for that because he absolutely left us an absolute gem in that footballer.”
