Celtic are closing in on a deal for Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey after they submitted a formal approach for his services, as reported by The Scottish Sun.
The Lowdown: Celtic prepare for 2021/22 in earnest
Moving into 2021/22, Hoops supporters will be eager to see how newly-appointed manager Ange Postecoglou goes about re-shaping a team in need of surgery in order to win the Premiership next season.
Making inroads in the transfer market, the Glaswegians have tied up deals for former Sheffield Wednesday pair Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw.
Parkhead chiefs could now be braced for a third signing in quick succession following recent reports.
The Latest: Celtic set to open talks with Hickey this week
Celtic are set to open talks with Hickey in the next week following the initiation of a £3.5m bid for the 19-year-old [The Scottish Sun].
His current employers are rumoured to be interested in a swoop for now free agent Aleksandar Kolarov, paving the way for the Serie A outfit to cash in on either Hickey or Dutch full-back Mitchell Dijks [The Scottish Sun].
Intriguingly, the former Hearts defender is a boyhood Celtic fan who also spent his footballing upbringing in the Bhoys’ academy. Might this prove pivotal in negotiations?
The Verdict: Hickey would be an excellent asset for Celtic
Upon reflection, Hickey would be an excellent asset for Celtic should he complete a move back to his homeland.
He endured a frustrating 2020/21 campaign in Italy, making just 12 appearances in all competitions due to injury issues and suffering from a viral infection [Transfermarkt].
Nevertheless, his eagerness to progress the ball and awareness of surroundings is commendable. Across the pitch, he recorded an impressive 88.4% passing accuracy which, would suit Postecoglou’s high-intensity possession-based style of football [WhoScored].
He also drew high praise from his former coach Austin MacPhee, who in January 2020 gushed: “He’s so young he could play a lot of positions. He could end up being like Busquets.” [The Scottish Sun]
Needing to play regular football at a critical point in his development, Hickey and Celtic may be perfectly suited should negotiations reach a successful conclusion.
In other news, this Celtic midfielder has been linked with a Premier League move.
