Aaron Hickey was in the headlines not too long ago after he refused to join up with the Scotland U21s squad. The youngster pushed for a place in the senior squad and he got his wish. Hickey is on the radar of several clubs across the continent and one such team is Newcastle United, as per reports from Fabrizio Romano.
Aaron Hickey attracts interest from numerous suitors
Could the Scotsman return to the UK?
Aaron Hickey departed Hearts after just one season of senior football with Serie A being his destination. A number of clubs in the UK and across Europe were keeping tabs on him, but it was Bologna that won out. Hickey may be just nineteen but there are already a plethora of options willing to give him that next step up.
Newcastle are interested in signing Bologna fullback Aaron Hickey. Potential fee £15-20m not an issue, he’s considered a top talent – but other clubs monitoring closely. 🏴 #NUFC
Hickey has played more minutes than any other teenager in Europe's top five leagues this season. pic.twitter.com/PVM8Jn6tGu
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 30, 2022
According to Fabrizio Romano, Aaron Hickey could be the next in a long line of players to be acquired by this new Newcastle regime. St James’ Park has welcomed the likes of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimares since the departure of Mike Ashley and also, since the arrival of Eddie Howe in the technical area.
The fee to get Hickey out of twelfth-placed Bologna is respective of his ability and potential in truth. The Magpies are being quoted a price of £15-20 million and it is said that this is “not an issue.” Newcastle clearly aren’t the only team that see as a reasonable tag for Aaron Hickey with other clubs in both Italy as well as the UK maintaining an interest in the fullback.
Aaron Hickey continues to accumulate minutes in Italy
As well as making his first two international appearances in 2022, Aaron Hickey has continued to play a ridiculous amount of minutes for a player his age. It is rare that you see a young player play so regularly, especially when it is outside of their home country. “Hickey has played more minutes than any other teenager in Europe’s top five leagues this season”, this seeing him ahead of household names such as Pedri and Jude Bellingham.
The best teenagers (1000+ minutes) from Europe's top 5 leagues this season according to InStat Index:
🏴Jude Bellingham – 293
🇩🇪Jamal Musiala – 292
🇩🇪Florian Wirtz – 290
🇵🇹Nuno Mendes – 285
🇫🇷Castello Lukeba – 280
🏴Valentino Livramento – 276
🏴Aaron Hickey – 269 pic.twitter.com/BzSIXQq8rF— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) March 23, 2022
It is always said that minutes on the field is the best way for a young prospect to prove themselves and this is clearly the case with Aaron Hickey. When he left Hearts, his ability was a relative unknown but now, he is living up to the hype. Alongside Newcastle, Serie A title hopefuls AC Milan are rumoured to be set to swoop in for Hickey so his future is certainly exciting. Talking of exciting and Hearts will be excited to see the interest in their former player ramping up due to the sell-on clause they have for him.
