A report has backed up Arsenal’s interest in signing Aaron Hickey this summer, with the Scotland international likely to replace Nuno Tavares at the Emirates.
Tavares swapped Benfica for Arsenal in July 2021 when the Gunners paid around £8million for his signature. However, the 22-year-old has had a disappointing first season in the Premier League.
Arsenal look more vulnerable whenever he is on the pitch. He was at fault for Jordan Ayew’s goal during the shock 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in April.
That forced Mikel Arteta to change the system at half time and haul him off. Left winger Gabriel Martinelli came on to replace him.
Tavares was left embarrassed in the following match when Arteta put Granit Xhaka at left-back. That’s despite Tavares being Arsenal’s only recognised left-back after Kieran Tierney had surgery on a knee problem.
According to a recent report from Sport Witness, citing outlets in Italy, Arsenal are part of the growing list of teams interested in Hickey.
The 19-year-old is enjoying a top campaign with Bologna in Serie A. He left Hearts in 2020 to go to Italy and has made 33 appearances in the Italian top flight this term, registering five goals.
football.london back these suggestions up. They claim Arteta wants a new left-back in the summer and Hickey is one of the players who could arrive at Arsenal.
Hickey could make Nuno Tavares surplus to requirements
Such a transfer would see Tavares drop to third in the pecking order, once Tierney is fit.
Arteta likes the fact Hickey can also operate on the right side of defence. This means he would provide backup for Takehiro Tomiyasu, in addition to Tierney.
Given the Scot is just 19, he has plenty of time to get even better and emerge into potentially a top-class defender.
Hickey’s contract with Bologna runs until June 2024. This means they don’t have to sell this summer as they are in no risk of a free transfer exit just yet.
As such, the Italian club want almost £17m to agree to an…
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