Who is Aaron Hickey? Newcastle United linked with £20m move for Bologna’s teenage Scotland international

Newcastle United have been linked with teenage Scotland international Aaron Hickey who plays in the Serie A for Bologna.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Italian side are looking for a fee in the region of £15m to £20m for the full-back who ‘has has played more minutes than any other teenager in Europe’s top five leagues this season.’

Hickey, 19, joined the Serie A side in 2020 from boyhood club Hearts and recently won his first two senior Scotland caps in their international friendlies against Poland and Austria.

Here is everything you need to know about Aaron Hickey, including what has been reported this morning:

Newcastle “interested” in signing Bologna full-back

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who is well known for his inside knowledge on European transfer stories, tweeted that Newcastle United were ‘interested’ in Hickey.

He wrote: “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.”

It is the second time that Romano has broken news regarding the Magpies in the last ten days, having previously claimed that the St James’ Park side also have interest in signing Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Who is Aaron Hickey? What would Scotland international bring to Newcastle

As noted by Romano, Hickey has played more minutes than any other teenager in Europe’s top five leagues this season (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A & Ligue 1).

The left-back, who has also been deployed on the right by the Serie A side this season, moved to the Stadio Renato Dall'Arafor for £1.5 million in September 2020 from Scottish Premiership side Hearts.

Hickey made his first team debut for the Edinburgh side in 2019 at the age of 17 having also spent time in the youth academy at Tynecastle as well as Celtic.

He started the 2019 Scottish Cup final, which Hearts lost 2-1 to Celtic, and scored his first senior goal in a 2-1 Edinburgh Derby win over city rivals Hibs early the next season.

Hickey has made 27 appearances for Bologna this season and scored four goals.

He earned his first senior Scotland cap earlier this month when he came off the bench as a second half substitute in Scotland's 1-1 friendly draw with Poland at Hampden Park.

His second cap came just a few days later, again as a second half substitute, in another friendly draw this time away to Austria.

Prior to the matches, Scotland boss Steve Clarke discussed Hickey’s chances of dislodging either captain Andy Robertson or Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney to start at left back.

Noting the players adaptability, Clarke said:“I’ve seen him playing a couple of games off the right for Bologna and he did okay.

“In our group he’s obviously got competition with the captain Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney in front of him.

“It gives me a chance to see Aaron up close in a training camp.”