Brentford have joined Premier League sides Arsenal and Newcastle United in the chase for Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey.
According to the Daily Mail, Brentford have entered the chase for Bologna star Aaron Hickey. Arsenal and Newcastle United are already chasing the versatile full-back, who could leave the Italian side in the summer.
Aaron Hickey has turned a lot of heads in the two seasons he has played for Bologna, earning the Golden Boy award at his club. After a brilliant debut season, the versatile full-back has garnered 34 appearances this term, scoring five times.
He was signed for £1.5 million in the summer of 2020 from Hearts and could be on the move again in the next window as Premier League clubs circle the defender. His attacking prowess and assured defensive ability make him an exciting prospect for sides looking to add quality to their squad.
Brentford are the latest club to come into the equation after early interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United. The Bees manager Thomas Frank is keen on the versatile defender, believing the youngster will add quality to his squad and upgrade the team’s options.
Brentford’s style is tailor-made for Hickey, where he will be deployed in the preferred wing-back role. The system could be similar to Bologna’s. The Bees could guarantee him regular game time in the Premier League, which could aid his development.
There is interest from Newcastle United, who are looking for a new left-back to compete with Matt Targett. The Magpies are likely to exercise their clause worth a reported £15 million to sign Targett permanently. He and Hickey could compete for places in the starting XI, which will only improve the team in the long run.
Meanwhile, Arsenal seem like the favourite to sign the 19-year-old from Bologna. The Gunners made an early approach and opened talks with the Italian club’s director, who visited London recently. Arsenal used their good relationship with the Serie A side after they signed Takehiro Tomiyasu last summer.
It has been claimed that Arsenal have agreed on a deal with Bologna for Hickey. The Gunners need a new player in the full-back position, and Mikel Arteta is specifically believed to be targeting versatile players who can play with both feet.
Hickey fits the role, and his ability to play on both flanks makes him a competitive option for both the right-back and left-back places. More likely than not, Arsenal would like Hickey to compete with Kieran Tierney as Arteta looks to improve his options in a problem area.
Brentford will be an attractive option for a young player like Hickey, as he could play there regularly. But the temptation of signing for a big club like Arsenal or Newcastle could play a huge role, and it remains to be seen where he ends up.
