---
title: "Aston Villa: Ashley Preece drops Aaron Hickey claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-ashley-preece-drops-aaron-hickey-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-04-29T06:10:44Z"
modified: "2022-04-29T06:10:44Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Ashley Preece drops Aaron Hickey claim

**[Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) are ‘really keen’ on a deal for Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey, according to [Ashley Preece](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-suarez-23804205).**

### The Lowdown: January links

Described as [‘incredible’](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5159992/hearts-aaron-hickey-evans-busquets-macphee/) by Villa coach Austin MacPhee during the pair’s time at Hearts, Hickey was linked with a move to the Midlands in the January window.

\[freshpress-poll id=”393243″\]

[Reports](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-transfer-rumours/aaron-hickey-villa-bid-rejected-transfer-latest/) even suggested that Villa made a late winter window offer for Hickey which was rejected, with the Scot remaining in Serie A beyond the deadline.

Villa’s failed bid was thought to be worth [£8.3m with a 20% sell-on clause](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-transfer-rumours/aaron-hickey-villa-bid-rejected-transfer-latest/), and it looks as if the club will go back in for the 19-year-old this summer.

### The Latest: Precee’s claim

Preece held a [Birmingham Live Q&A](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-suarez-23804205) on Thursday morning, discussing a whole range of Villa Park topics.

As to be expected, one of those was on transfers, with one supporter asking Preece if he thinks a move for Hickey will materialise. This is what he had to say in reply, revealing Villa are still ‘really keen’.

> “Villa really keen on that one. Club will wait for Targett to tie up £15m Newcastle move (expected to go through start of July) before progressing to sign Hickey.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

### The Verdict: Smart move?

As Preece states, Matt Targett looks set to seal a permanent move to Newcastle, which will leave Gerrard with just Lucas Digne and Ashley Young as left-back [options](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kader/verein/405) heading into his first full season in charge.

Young is out of [contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/kader/verein/405) in the summer and will be 37 before the start of the 2022/23 campaign, while Digne may not feature again this season through [injury](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-lucas-digne-injury-23648810).

Therefore, bringing in Hickey, who has been a [regular](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949) in Italy this season and even earned his first [two](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949) Scotland caps, could be a smart move, with many in the media expecting him to [explode](https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2022/01/02/61d1718de2704e21058b457e.html) in 2022.

He’d rival Digne for a starting spot in the Midlands and would also provide Gerrard with an option as a [left-midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949) and even on the [right-hand side](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949) if required.

***In other news: [‘I’m told…’ – Preece reveals big Aston Villa ‘deal’ Gerrard wants now on the verge.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-philippe-coutinho-transfer-update-ashley-preece/)***