Aaron Hickey is now looking more likely to join Brentford than Arsenal, with some reporting no ongoing Gunners talks for the signing.

Earlier this week, The Scotsman claimed Arsenal were at the front of the queue to sign Scottish international Aaron Hickey this summer. They added that a departure is a case of when, not if, he leaves.

But the same outlet now write that Brentford are making the strongest move for Hickey, who reportedly harbours concerns that he’d only be joining Arsenal as a backup to Kieran Tierney.

Fabrizio Romano takes the claims one step further, reporting that there are currently no talks or negotiations between Hickey and Arsenal.

Earlier in the summer, 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”.

Though on the other side, Football.London previously confirmed that Arsenal are monitoring Hickey ahead of the summer window

Any buyer 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 has said.

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.