Eddie Howe’s search for a new left-back continues with Matt Targett looking unlikely to extend his stay on Tyneside and HITC have reported that Bologna’s 19-year-old defender, Aaron Hickey could be the new target.
Arsenal are said to have lodged a £21 bid already for Hickey, so if Newcastle were interested they need to act fast to beat Arsenal to the punch like they did in January for Bruno Guimaraes.
Hickey was described by former boss, Daniel Stendel, as “an extraordinary talent” and likened him to Philipp Lahm during his time at Hearts of Midlothian before making the switch to Bologna for a fee of around £1.5m in 2020.
The Scottish international made 34 starts and two substitute appearances for Bologna last term and even popped up with five goals and one assist.
While Arsenal can offer Hickey European football next term, Newcastle could be more likely to offer the youngster more game time as Arsenal already have Kieran Tierney as first-choice left back, whereas Howe will be looking for someone to make that position their own after deciding that Targett, while an excellent player for Newcastle, is not the right man for the style of play he wants Newcastle to play going forward.
Hopefully this is a rumour that has legs as Hickey is an exciting prospect and at only 19 is definitely a player for the long term. If he is as good as people claim already, he could grow to be even better than his fellow countryman, Andy Robertson.