---
title: "West Ham United: Irons eyeing move for Aaron Hickey"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-eyering-aaron-hickey-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2022-01-17T13:40:01Z"
modified: "2022-01-17T13:40:01Z"
---

# West Ham United: Irons eyeing move for Aaron Hickey

**According to journalist Pete O’Rourke (via [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/1821530-irons-transfer-news-west-ham-keeping-eye-on-19-yo-compared-to-gareth-bale)), West Ham are eyeing a move for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey.**

### The Lowdown: Irons looking at left-back options

Aaron Cresswell is the [first-choice left-back](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) under David Moyes and rightly so; the defender was crucial in the Hammers’ fantastic start to the season, with his consistency an important reliance for the backline.

Unfortunately, his fine form crashed to a halt after he suffered a [back injury](https://www.hammers.news/club-news/david-moyes-shares-aaron-cresswell-injury-update-after-west-hams-2-1-defeat-to-manchester-city/) against Manchester City at the end of November. The injury sidelined him until [last week](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-cresswell/leistungsdaten/spieler/92571#subnavi), when he made his return in the Irons’ 2-0 win over Norwich City.

However, Cresswell is now 32 years old and his contract is [set to expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-cresswell/leistungsdaten/spieler/92571#subnavi) in the summer next year. With this in mind, West Ham have begun the search for a replacement, exacerbated by [Moyes’ claim](https://www.claretandhugh.info/boss-makes-masuaku-feelings-known/) that Arthur Masuaku is not suited to playing left-back, despite being happy with his performances overall.

### The Latest: West Ham eyeing Hickey

According to O’Rourke (via [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/1821530-irons-transfer-news-west-ham-keeping-eye-on-19-yo-compared-to-gareth-bale)), West Ham are keeping an eye on Hickey, with a deal possibly being done for the player in the summer.

The [19-year-old left-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949) joined Bologna in 2020, after leaving boyhood club Hearts and has enjoyed a breakthrough season in Italy this term. having featured in [19 Serie A league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949) in the current campaign. As a result of his impressive performances, West Ham are [seemingly interested](https://www.footballfancast.com/west-ham-united-transfer-rumours/west-ham-january-transfer-news-exwhuemployee-aaron-hickey-whu-premier-league) in the youngster.

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/1821530-irons-transfer-news-west-ham-keeping-eye-on-19-yo-compared-to-gareth-bale), O’Rourke asserted: “I can’t see a deal happening this window, but it is maybe one that West Ham are keeping an eye on for the summer.”

### The Verdict: Great choice for the Hammers

With Cresswell reaching the final 18 months of his contract and Masuaku’s incompatibility as a proper left-back, West Ham will need to bring in a long-term replacement during the summer window.

Hickey could be the solution to Moyes’ left-back worries. Having scored four goals in [Serie A this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-hickey/leistungsdaten/spieler/591949), the Scottish teenager is the [second-highest scoring defender](https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2022/01/02/61d1718de2704e21058b457e.html) in Europe’s top five leagues. Consequently, the Bologna gem has [drawn comparisons with](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/aaron-hickey-earns-comparison-real-22635319) a young Gareth Bale.

Thinking back to how the Welshman [burst onto the scene](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9102192.stm) as a left-back for Spurs in the early 2010s, it is hard to not get excited at the prospect of Hickey doing the same in a West Ham shirt, if the Irons can entice him back to the UK.

**In other news: [West Ham linked with January move for ‘assured’ Premier League defender who ‘dominates players’](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/kortney-hause-keen-west-ham-return-january/)**