Aston Villa want to sign Aaron Hickey this summer – report
Aston Villa want to sign Bologna full-back Aaron Hickey this summer as a replacement for Matt Targett, according to Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece.
Targett joined Newcastle United on loan in the January transfer window after losing his place to Lucas Digne, who arrived from Everton in a £25m deal earlier in the month.
There is an expectation that Newcastle will trigger the £15m option to make that loan permanent during the summer, and according to a report Steven Gerrard has been tracking the young Scotland international.
Villa were looking at Hickey in January too, who has excelled in Serie A since moving as a 17-year-old from the Scottish Premiership.
It’s believed he would cost around £13.5m as he has two years left on his deal, and several other Premier League clubs are said to be taking an interest also.
Rebuild
Villa had an ageing squad and this would be another step towards a rebuild with youth and exciting talent that can be developed at Villa Park over the coming years.
Digne is quite clearly Gerrard’s number one left-back at the club right now, and news that Ashley Young will be leaving at the end of his contract means cover is needed.
Targett clearly wants regular football and a £15m deal for someone who is out of the first-team picture is only a good thing, especially if he can be replaced by someone far younger and for less money.
Hickey would then have the opportunity to learn from two excellent full-backs in Matty Cash and Digne, with his ability to play on either flank a big help to Gerrard who values versatility highly.
There will be plenty of competition for his signature in the summer if he is available for a transfer, so the club should move quickly to get it done, but there aren’t many places better than Villa Park to develop your game and be loved by the fans.
In other Aston Villa news, here’s why John McGinn is the unsung hero at Villa Park