Bologna aren’t interested in selling Celtic target Aaron Hickey this summer, according to Italian newspaper La Nazione [print edition, 05/07, page 46].
The report states that the Serie A club view the former Hearts man as an exciting talent for the future. That’s despite the fact Hickey had to undergo shoulder surgery and saw the second half of his debut season in Italy ruined.
La Nazione also believes that Celtic could be in for some competition this summer. Fiorentina have been mentioned in the report as an alternative option for Hickey. However, this is dependent on whether they sell Cristiano Biraghi to Roma.
Should they do so, La Nazione claims that Fiorentina will offer £2.1m for Hickey. That’s substantially lower than the £4m Bologna are rumoured to be looking for in any deal [Scottish Sun].
If Bologna are to sell a left-back, the Italian newspaper reports they’re looking to offload Mitchell Dijks instead with Roma also said to be monitoring him.
Bologna to Celtic move for Hickey won’t come cheap
One thing that’s become very clear about this entire saga is that Hickey isn’t going to come cheaply. It shows just how much we missed out when he joined the Serie A side for only £1.5m last summer [BBC].
You would have to question what would be in any move to Fiorentina for Hickey, however. They finished one spot below Bologna in Italy last season. It’s not as if his current club doesn’t value him. He was a regular before his injury.
Celtic simply need to be careful that they aren’t lured into a bidding war here. Hickey is a talented prospect with so much potential and development in him. But he’s only worth so much, and the Hoops have to remember that we have many other positions needing strengthening too.
Bologna, meanwhile, will be looking to protect their investment. If they truly see something in Hickey, it’s going to be a hugely difficult deal to get over the line. Not that you would expect their stance to be anything different.
The next move in this transfer story is going to be interesting. But Celtic should do all they can to avoid it being a saga – regardless of what the outcome is.
In other news, why July is an absolutely huge month for Conor Hazard.
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