Arsenal and Liverpool are among the latest clutch of Premier League clubs to scout Aston Villa transfer target Aaron Hickey after his impressive run of form in Serie A with Bologna.
That’s according to 90min, who report Hickey is now the subject of interest from all six of England’s elite clubs. More than half of the top-flight have shown at least varying levels of interest in the Scotland international, as some consider him a ‘unique’ dual-footed talent.
Scouts working with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and City have flocked to the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium this season. Brentford, Brighton, Leeds, West Ham, Leicester and Southampton have also begun to show tentative intrigue in his ability.
Juventus and Napoli are also considering bids to keep the youngster in Serie A. While his efforts with I Rossoblu have caught Bayern Munich’s attention as they track his progress.
Arsenal, Liverpool join clubs in scouting £12.5m Aston Villa target Aaron Hickey
Hickey is happy in Italy right now, after moving to Bologna from Hearts in a £1.5m deal in September 2020. Yet the 19-year-old also sees a move to the Premier League as the next step for his career. But the full-back will still have two years to run on his contract in June.
Any move by Arsenal or Liverpool et all to poach Hickey from Bologna may also draw some competition from Aston Villa in the next transfer window. Steven Gerrard’s side submitted a €10m (£8.5m) bid this January, per Il Resto Del Carlino, but I Rossoblu snubbed the offer.
The Emilia-Romagna natives feel Hickey will be worth €12-15m (£10-12.5m) this summer. And Steve Clarke including the four-goal, one-assist full-back in a senior Scotland squad for the first time this month will only serve to help strengthen their resolve to any lesser bids.
“It’s a chance for me to have a look at Aaron up close,” Clarke said, via BBC Sport. “If you look at the course of the season and look at how Aaron has played for Bologna, he is one of the standout young players in European football at the moment.”
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