Arsenal are the most likely destination for Bologna full-back Aaron Hickey this summer, according to a report from Scotland.

BOLOGNA, ITALY: Aaron Hickey of Bologna FC (R) kicks the ball past Mert Muldur of US Sassuolo (L) during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on May 15, 2022. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY: Aaron Hickey of Bologna FC (R) kicks the ball past Mert Muldur of US Sassuolo (L) during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on May 15, 2022. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images)

The Scotsman report that Arsenal are currently at the front of the queue to sign Scottish international Aaron Hickey this summer. A departure is a case of when, not if, he leaves.

Arsenal will have to pay as much as £18m to complete a deal, so it’s not a cheap one for a 20-year-old defender. Bologna will only sell if that valuation is met.

“[Hickey] is one of those we could sacrifice, but if we don’t receive adequate offers, he’ll likely stay for another year,” Bologna sporting director Marco Di Vaio said.

Earlier in the summer, some reports from Italy suggested Arsenal had even reached a fee agreement with Bologna to sign Hickey.

But from the Arsenal side, various sources suggested that’s not the case.

David Ornstein reported for The Athletic that Hickey wasn’t close to joining Arsenal as things stood, whilst Sam Dean of The Telegraph wrote that “reports in Italy of an agreed deal are wide of the mark”.

So it proved, as there was no further movement on the potential signing over the following month. But no one is ruling out Arsenal interest in the defender, so it’s possible we could still see a bid in the coming weeks.

ROME, ITALY: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of AS Roma battles for possession with Aaron Hickey of Bologna during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 01, 2022. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of AS Roma battles for possession with Aaron Hickey of Bologna during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Bologna FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 01, 2022. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s relationship with Bologna is obviously strong following the Takehiro Tomiyasu transfer, so you’d hope the Gunners could get a deal done if Hickey really is a player they want.

Football.London previously confirmed that Arsenal are monitoring Hickey ahead of the summer window, and that they’re interested in signing the versatile full-back.

Hickey is effectively ambidextrous and can play in either full-back position. He made 36 appearances and scored five goals in Serie A last season.