Arsenal make decision on Scottish international as Brentford see opening bid rejected

Dan Butterfield
Bologna defender Aaron Hickey

Arsenal have reportedly decided to up their bid for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey after Brentford saw a £9.4million bid rejected.

The Scotland international has been heavily sought after this summer after an impressive season in Serie A with West Ham and Newcastle also thought to be interested.


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Having started his career at Scottish Premiership side Hearts, the left-back joined Bologna in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £1.5m.

Having initially struggled for regular game time in Italy, the 19-year-old has come into his own this season, making 39 league appearances and scoring an impressive five goals.

The defender is now likely to leave the club this summer and Corriere dello Sport (via football.london) is now reporting that Arsenal will up their bid for Hickey after seeing Brentford have a bid rejected.

The Gunners have another Scotland international at left back in Kieran Tierney, however, the former Celtic man has struggled with various injury problems since arriving in 2019.

Tierney has failed to hit the 30 game mark in all three of his seasons at the Emirates Stadium.

Back-up Nuno Tavares, who only joined the club last summer, has struggled to impress since arriving in north-London and manager Mikel Arteta is now keen to improve his options.

However, the reports also suggest that Arsenal have been told they must pay £21.3m to land Hickey this summer. Whether Arsenal will pay a hefty fee for someone who is initially likely to be a squad players remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has issued a farewell message after it was confirmed he will leave the club this summer. 

“I’m looking forward to a new experience and a new adventure,” Lacazette said.

“I want to keep all the good moments I had in the club, because for me it was just a pleasure to play for a club that, since I was young, I dreamt of.

“I’m really happy to have played for five years for Arsenal.

“I’ll keep in contact with my teammates, with the coaches, with the club.

“I supported Arsenal since I was young, so obviously I’m going to keep supporting them. I know I will come back to the stadium as well.

“Like we say, ‘Once a Gunner, always a Gunner’”.