Scotland under-21 defender Aaron Hickey is wanted by Premier League Aston Villa, according to a report, as the Bologna defender continues to attract interest from a host of clubs.
According to The Sun, Villa are the latest club tracking the left-back who has also been linked with Celtic.
Aaron Hickey in action for Bologna (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Hickey has made seven appearances in Serie A this season for Bologna and is reported to be happy in Italy so it might be hard for Villa or anyone else to lure him back to the UK just now.
During the summer, when reports claimed he was close to a return to Scotland, Bologna insisted they were “betting on” the left-back this season, insisting he will be staying in Italy for the foreseeable future.
“Hickey is a Bologna player, and despite the interest of many clubs, he will 100 per cent remain here,” sporting director Walter Sabatini said at the time.
“Last season was a short one for him because of injury but he has already shown us the great qualities he possesses as a player.
“Bologna are betting a lot on him, and he stays with us.”
The defender was set to win his first under-21 cap for Scotland earlier this month against Denmark at Tynecastle before injury forced him to withdraw from Scot Gemmill’s squad for the Edinburgh clash.
With a couple of goals to his name this season for Bologna, Hickey has also shown he can pose a threat from defence as the teenager looks to cement his place in the Bologna side and push for a spot in the senior Scotland squad.
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