Aston Villa tipped to make move for Scottish youngster in summer

Jason Soutar
Reported Aston Villa target Aaron Hickey during a match

Aston Villa have been tipped to make a move for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey in the summer transfer market.

Hickey joined the Serie A club from Hearts in 2020 after breaking into the side at the age of 16. He became the youngest player to start in a Scottish Cup final in 2018/19.

The 19-year-old has made 21 appearances this term, scoring four times, and is now a mainstay in Bologna’s starting XI.


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He has only appeared for Scotland at under-17 level after pulling out of numerous u21 squads due to injury.

Aston Villa are reportedly long-term admirers of Hickey and the player was also tracked by Steven Gerrard during his time as Rangers manager.

And speaking on the Claret & Blue podcast, Birmingham Live journalist Ashley Preece has tipped the Villans to make a move for the left-back in the summer.

He said: “I think (Matt) Targett will go to Newcastle in the summer and I think Villa will bring in Aaron Hickey.

“He’s been a long-term target, they know him well. Austin MacPhee worked with him at Hearts as well and likewise Gerrard’s backroom team know all about him from his time in Scotland.”

Reports elsewhere state that Aston Villa had a bid in the region of £8.5m rejected for Hickey.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa turned down three bids for Douglas Luiz during the January transfer window, according to reports.

Luiz is into his third season at Villa Park after joining from Manchester City in 2019 and has impressed immensely.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is thought to be an admirer, while Manchester City have reportedly even made attempts to bring him back to the club since his departure.

It was reported in November that he wanted to leave the club amid interest from Roma, while Arsenal and Newcastle have been linked with moves in the January transfer market.

And now The Athletic reports that Aston Villa ‘have rejected three offers’ for the midfielder in January ‘with the most recent offer made on transfer deadline day’.

It is understood that ‘the Premier League club want to keep the midfielder and tie him down to a new long-term contract’ despite ‘admirers at both Arsenal and Newcastle United’.