Aston Villa have made their interest known in Scottish left-back Aaron Hickey, with a January move possibly on the cards from Bologna.
According to the print edition of Il Resto del Carlino, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa could move Scottish left-back Aaron Hickey in the January window. Reports suggest the Villans tried to sign him in the summer but couldn’t agree on proper terms with the Italian side; however, they might come back in the winter market.
After a seemingly modest first campaign in Serie A, Aaron Hickey has made his mark with Bologna this season. The Scottish left-back has received rave reviews from many in the footballing circle even comparing him with Liverpool star Andy Robertson for his style of play and abilities to attack the ball.
The 19-year-old is an excellent dribbler, having demonstrated his ability to start attacks from his side. Moreover, his excellent reading of the game has been lauded for its mature levels. With that, he could be a valuable asset for any side he plays for.
Bologna certainly are experiencing the benefits of signing him. Hickey’s move to Italy was rather surprising in the summer of 2020, especially when there was considerable interest from many big clubs, including Chelsea and Bayern Munich. He could have easily moved there but decided to join a team where he might play regularly than warming the bench.
After making only a modest 11 appearances last season, Hickey has played in nine Serie A games, scoring two goals in the process. He has made himself a bonafide starter at the Italian side and could only move if he is guaranteed a place in the lineup or regular playing time.
According to reports, Aston Villa are reportedly very keen on the full-back and have already initiated contact with the representatives to sound out a January move. Dean Smith’s side were interested in signing him in the summer, but a deal with Bologna never materialised.
Smith might consider Hickey to freshen up his full-back options. With Matt Targett already a sure starter in the position, the manager might not be happy with his attacking output. It’s not to suggest the current left-back lacks attacking nous but hasn’t been able to perform at his best in the wing-back role.
Hickey has already shown his expertise in playing an attacking football from the left-back slot, with the two goals and his massive improvement this season with Bologna the proof of it.
He might be a good option for Villa or any other Premier League side, although to move in January might come too soon for his development. At Bologna, he is currently thriving with regular starts, and this rhythm will certainly be disrupted with a move to Villa, where he may not be able to dislodge Targett in the short term.