The latest transfer rumour links Villa with interest in 19 year old left back Aaron Hickey.
The modern left back, who can also operate as a winger, has caught the eye for Italian side Bologna. Since breaking through this season Hickey has been an ever present, scoring 5 times in the process.
Hickey is considered a hot prospect, with Scottish side Celtic and current Premier League leaders Manchester City closely monitoring his progress. The defender’s stock continues to rise, with a current valuation understood to be in the region of £8m. Hickey made the switch in 2020 from SPL club Hearts after a protracted transfer saga for a fee of just £1.78m.
Embed from Getty ImagesVilla have no room for sentiment under new boss Gerrard, who was reminded during his unveiling press conference by CEO Christian Purslow, that there was an expectation for “continuous improvement”.
Current first choice left back Matt Targett, a product of Southampton’s academy system, has displayed extremes of form since his arrival at the club. Whilst a tireless worker, Targett’s Project Restart form differed notably to that of his performances throughout the period that lead to Dean Smith’s sacking.
The 26 year old had seen a recent upturn in his performances after Gerrard’s arrival, but struggles to fulfil the attacking portion of the role expected of him. Indeed, Targett’s crossing and final product leave much to be desired.
Villa will need to move swiftly if to seal Hickey’s signature. Celtic have already seen a £3.5m bid rejected earlier this year, whilst Serie A sides Napoli and Fiorentina are known suitors.