Brentford are ready to make their move to sign Bologna’s Aaron Hickey, 90min understands.
The Bees are on the hunt for depth at full-back and have already missed out on the signing of Rasmus Kristensen to Leeds United.
Hickey has remained on Brentford’s radar and they have kept a close eye on his development in Serie A, where he scored five goals in 34 starts for Bologna last season.
Arsenal are also interested in the versatile full-back’s services but he is understood to be further down their list of priorities this summer.
Thomas Frank’s side are gearing up to make their first official bid for the 20-year-old, and they’ve been handed a boost after new Bologna sporting director Marco Di Vaio admitted the club could sell him for an ‘adequate offer’.
“[Hickey] is one of those we could sacrifice, but if we don’t receive adequate offers, he’ll likely stay for another year,” Di Vaio said.
“We have a good potential to do well and earn more than 50 points [in Serie A next season]. We must be good at financing new signings and finding new players. If we make the right moves, we’ll be able to replace them and keep all the others.”
Listen now to 90min’s brand new podcast, Talking Transfers, with Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth. On their most packed show to date, the guys discuss Sadio Mane’s valuation as Liverpool win the race for Darwin Nunez, how Marc Roca joining Leeds could allow Kalvin Phillips to depart for long-time admirers Manchester City, the latest on Manchester United’s pursuits of Frenkie de Jong & Antony and much more.
Meanwhile, 90min reported on Tuesday that Christian Eriksen is expected to leave Brentford this summer at the end of his contract.
However, the Bees haven’t given up hope of keeping him and are still trying to convince the Dane to stay in west London.