Arsenal are reportedly monitoring another Bologna defender ahead of this summer’s transfer window, in the form of 19 year old Aaron Hickey.
The Gunners have already made one successful purchase from the Serie A club, bringing Takehiro Tomiyasu to the club from the north Italian outfit on deadline day last summer, and are looking to repeat the trick.
The Japanese defender has been a revelation at right-back when fit, with his two-footed nature a major help in Arsenal’s build-up play and the 23-year-old also dominant in the air.
And, in Hickey, Arsenal are hoping for a move just as successful as they plot a £20m bid for the Scot, who has only been in Italy for a season.
It has been some season, however, with the teenager having scored 5 times in 33 appearances from left-back, and turning in a myriad of impressive displays along the way.
€20m – Hickey to Arsenal
It’s emerged in the last hour that Arsenal are keen to get Hickey over the line as their first summer signing.
Would be in line with their new youthful side, scout linked to Bologna after Tomiyasu signing & Tierney injuries plus no settled RB.
??? pic.twitter.com/I7zvfmWLyl
— ScotsAbroadPod (@ScotsAbroadPod) May 2, 2022
And, as per Football.London, ‘Arsenal are interested in signing Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey following his impressive performances’.
Where would Hickey fit in?
Hickey is a natural left-back, who is also capable of playing on the right side of defence. However, he would likely be deployed on the left, with Kieran Tierney out for several months with a knee injury and Nuno Tavares having flattered to deceive in limited appearances this season.
The other side is more congested, with Hector Bellerin set to return from loan at Real Betis and sources telling 101 that Cedric Soares is ‘not considering moving from Arsenal and his goal is to continue playing for the team next year’. Tomiyasu, meanwhile, remains first choice.
Should Arsenal move for Hickey, it would likely signal a loan spell for Tavares.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 34 | 63 | 83 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 34 | 64 | 82 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 34 | 39 | 66 |
| 4 | Arsenal FC | 34 | 13 | 63 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 34 | 20 | 61 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 35 | 2 | 55 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 35 | 7 | 52 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 34 | 1 | 49 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 35 | -8 | 44 |
| 10 | Newcastle United | 35 | -16 | 43 |
| 11 | Leicester City | 33 | -6 | 42 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 34 | 3 | 41 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 33 | -2 | 40 |
| 14 | Brentford FC | 34 | -8 | 40 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 35 | -17 | 40 |
| 16 | Burnley FC | 34 | -15 | 34 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 34 | -34 | 34 |
| 18 | Everton FC | 33 | -20 | 32 |
| 19 | Watford FC | 34 | -37 | 22 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 34 | -49 | 21 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 22 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 19 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 18 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 15 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 14 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 12 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 12 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 11 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 11 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 10 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 10 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 10 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 10 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 10 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 10 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bednarek, Jan | Southampton FC | 0 | 10 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 10 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 9 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 8 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 7 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 8 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Joelinton | Newcastle United | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 9 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 8 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 8 |
| Kulusevski, Dejan | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 7 |
| Mbeumo, Bryan | Brentford FC | 7 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 7 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 6 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City | 6 |
