Why Aston Villa should invest in Aaron Hickey for the future
According to Daily Record, Aston Villa are interested in signing Heart of Midlothian youngster Aaron Hickey ahead of the new season.
The 18-year-old initially spent time in the youth system of Heart of Midlothian before joining Celtic’s youth set-up. He then returned to Tynecastle Park in the summer of 2018 and made his senior debut in May 2019. He is also the youngest ever player to play in the Scottish Cup final when his side lost 2-1 to Celtic last season.
The teenager has been a regular member of the squad since the 2019/20 campaign and has also represented Scotland at the U17 level. His impressive performances have attracted a lot of interest from Europe. Bayern Munich and Bologna are also keen on securing the services of Hickey, as per the report. Thus, Villa should make a swift move for the youngster.
Hickey – A future left-back for Villa
One of the major reasons for Aston Villa’s poor campaign is the lack of stability in their backline. The Villans conceded 67 goals this season, and the manager should look to improve the defence. And one key area which needs to be strengthened is the left-back position.
Neil Taylor and Matt Targett are the two available options at the manager’s disposal. However, only Targett has been used regularly, with the Welshman being pushed to the bench. Moreover, Taylor has just one more year left on his contract and his departure could reduce Villa’s numbers at the back.
Hence, signing Hickey would help them secure their future at left-back. The youngster has shown immense potential that belies his tender age and could be seen as a future prospect. He has already made 34 appearances for Hearts at the age of 18 and has a huge future ahead of him.
He could be a replacement for Taylor in the future, who is already 31 and reaching the twilight of his career. And his inclusion would also bring healthy competition. This could work in favour of the club and Hickey could be their future at left-back if he continues to develop and perform at a high level.
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Verdict
With Taylor entering the twilight of his career, it is clear that Villa are in dire need of a left-back. And Hickey could be a good option. He could also go on to represent them in the long run if he develops well. Thus, they should manage to beat off competition for the youngster and lure him to Villa Park this summer.
