Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Celtic’s Northern Ireland midfielder Niall McGinn. Boss Mick McCarthy is said to be eager to add to his midfield options in the January transfer window, as the Black Country club struggle to adapt to life in England’s top flight.

Reports south of the border and in Belfast suggest that Wolves are preparing a £1.5 million offer for the player, who moved to Glasgow from Derry City at the turn of the year. The 22-year-old has earned rave reviews for his performances for club and country, picking up the man of the match award on his Celtic and Northern Ireland debuts.

McGinn only turned professional in 2008 when former Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny took him to Derry from Dungannon Swifts. He was linked with a move to the English Premier League during his 18 months with the Candystripes, with Chelsea understood to have scouted the player.

He moved to Parkhead for £200,000, signing a three-and-a-half year contract. He joined ex-team mate Paddy McCourt, who had crossed the Irish Sea six months previous.

It is also believed that former club Derry would be entitled to 20% of any transfer fee as part of a sell-on clause in the transfer agreement between the clubs.

It is unknown whether a move to the English top flight would appeal to McGinn, who described joining boyhood favourites Celtic 10 months ago as a “dream”. Having not yet established himself as a first team regular in the SPL, McGinn may feel he has time on his side before choosing to move south.

Having only recently established himself as a regular call-up to the Northern Ireland squad, previous comments by the player suggest that he would not be willing to run the risk of losing his international place. Before joining Celtic, he warned he would not want to play reserve team football as it would stop Nigel Worthington picking him.

“I don't want reserve football,” said McGinn a year ago, shortly before his move to Celtic. “I need to be playing regularly to keep me in the Northern Ireland squad.

"But there is no point leaving Derry City, where I am getting first-team football, to play in the reserves in Scotland, or for that matter, in England."