It had looked like left-back was a position that Newcastle United had found a solution for when they signed Matt Targett from Aston Villa on loan. He came in and did a great job for the Magpies, and thus, the majority of the fans wanted him to be signed on a permanent basis, with rumours suggesting that a transfer fee around £15 million could be enough to get a deal over the line.
Since then though, the Magpies have been linked with one left-back after the other, and now, it is starting to feel like they might be looking to sign somebody other than Targett or are desperate to provide him with some competition next season.
The latest name in the quickly growing list of Newcastle United’s left-back targets is that of Aaron Hickey, who has enjoyed a breakout season with Bologna in the Serie A this season and caught the eyes of several teams around Europe as a result.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, there is talk that Arsenal are ready to put a transfer bid of €25 million on the table, a figure that Bologna will find it hard to say no to. But Newcastle United are ready to enter the race for Hickey’s signature as well.
Newcastle United linked with move for Arsenal transfer target
Hickey has been a revelation this season while playing for Bologna and could very well be next in the line of world-class left-backs that Scotland have produced in recent years, which includes the likes of Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, who is already at Arsenal.
According to stats from Transfermarkt, Hickey scored 5 goals and provided an assist in 36 Serie A appearances last season.
He is capable of playing as a left-back, a left wingback or even in the left side of midfield and is still just 19 years of age. Thus, the sky could be the limit for the Scottish youngster and if Newcastle United are able to sign him, it would be a major coup.