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Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing a move for AC Milan midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, as Unai Emery and Monchi look to add more reinforcements to their attack.

The Spanish duo have hit the jackpot so far in the transfer window, obtaining the signatures of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby, however Monchi could face his first business blunder in chasing De Ketelaere.

Could Aston Villa sign Charles De Ketelaere?

As reported by news outlets in Spain, relayed by The Hard Tackle, Villa are keen on Milan’s attacking midfielder.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

It’s claimed that the Villans have learned the 22-year-old’s price tag, which sits around the €28m (£24m) mark, just one year after moving to the San Siro in a deal worth €35m (£30m).

The report added that Milan are ready to offload the Belgian, after a difficult first year in Italy following his move from Club Brugge.

How good is Charles De Ketelaere?

Having once been hailed as a “special player” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former Juliper Pro League wizard has failed to impress in Milan in a move that has been a big blow for the Rossoneri.

There’s little surprise that the 22-year-old was snatched by Milan after showcasing his talents in an impeccable 2021/22 campaign in the Jupiler Pro League, in which he scored 14 goals and registered seven assists in 33 appearances for Brugge.

Unfortunately for the Belgian, his form has not been transferable to Italy, where he has registered only a single assist in 32 appearances in Serie A in a hugely underwhelming individual season on the back of such an impressive feat at his boyhood club.

Criticised as “awful” by football blogger Rajath Kumar after a poor performance for Milan, the youngster was described as “deflated and dejected” in what was a term to forget for the Villa target.

For Emery and Monchi, the season played by De Ketelaere should be a warning sign for the Midlands club, who could cause a disaster in taking the 22-year-old from the hands of the Italian giants.

There’s little to deny the talents that the youngster possesses, however at this time in Villa’s progression, the room for error this window is not necessary considering the calibre of deals that Monchi has already delivered.

The Premier League is a competition that many stars come from abroad to taste and realise that their palette isn’t perhaps destined to enjoy the spices the English game can deliver.

After two full league seasons with Club Brugge, De Ketelaere opted to branch out to savour what the European stage had to offer in Italy, in a move that perhaps came too early for the budding star, leaving a further move to the Premier League a questionable one.

In capturing the 6 foot 4 midfielder, Villa could add to their ranks in the creative department in attack, considering that the player averaged an impressive 1.61 key passes per 90 for Milan last term, however, his ability suggested in Serie A could place him low in Emery’s midfield pecking order.

John McGinn has been revolutionised under the Spaniard’s regime in the Midlands, captaining the side to the highs of the 2022/23 campaign and earning a new contract last month that takes his stay at Villa Park to 2027.

The form of the Scotsman raises questions as to whether De Ketelaere would be worthy of having a spot in the side ahead of the 28-year-old, who performed at a consistently high-level last season.

Spending over £20m on a player not guaranteed to better the likes of McGinn makes little sense, added to the earlier capture of Tielemans who is another midfielder for Emery to add to the mix.

Tottenham Hotspur are "set to move for another centre-back signing" and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba is the "top target", according to reports.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy have already sealed a fair few major signings this summer, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, youngster Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz joining the club.

The new Premier League season is looming, and after Spurs' last pre-season friendly against Barcelona tonight, attention now turns to Brentford away on Sunday.

The north Londoners will have a new-look side from last term as Ange Postecoglou seeks to implement his philosophy and hand-pick players suited to his system.

Defensively, Tottenham were very poor last season, having conceded 63 league goals – which is more than any other side above 15th in the top-flight managed.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Those numbers will prove alarming for Postecoglou, who has a big task on his hands following in the footsteps of serial winner Antonio Conte.

The Australian also admitted to media recently that he wants to see more than one defensive addition this summer and has urged his side to make another signing at the back after completing a deal for van de Ven.

"It's not done yet," said Postecoglou.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

After this declaration of intent from Spurs' boss, reporter Pete O'Rourke has shared an update in a column for Football Insider.

The journalist, sharing news on Tottenham's transfer plans for the remainder of this window, relays Spurs are "set to move for another centre-back signing" after both van de Ven and Phillips.

Tapsoba, who has been repeatedly linked throughout the transfer window, is at the centre of their interest with the club, and by extension Levy, identifying him as their "top target" before September 1.

The Burkina Faso international is valued at around £45m by Leverkusen, a figure proving problematic behind-the-scenes, and that is apparently holding up advanced talks.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Tapsoba was an untouchable member of Xabi Alonso's starting eleven over 2022/2023, playing more league minutes than any other Leverkusen outfielder in the Bundesliga (WhoScored).

The 24-year-old ranked among their best for clearances made per 90 also, backing how truly solid of a presence he can be at the back (WhoScored).

Guardian journalist Ben McAleer, writing a piece for the outlet, has revered Tapsoba for his distribution and believes he would be a sure-fire fit for Postecoglou's system.

McAleer said:

"Postecoglou wants his centre-backs to play the ball out from defence, so Tapsoba would be a fine addition to the squad. He ranked fifth for passes per game (76.3) in the Europa League last season, and returned a solid pass success rate of 87.2%. What’s more, Tapsoba ranked second for forward passes (879) in the Bundesliga last season, looking to set his side on the front foot where possible."

Aston Villa are reportedly still interested in Galatasaray forward Nicolo Zaniolo, as Unai Emery continues to target the player.

The Villans were said to have interest in the Italian in June, when news in Italy linked the two parties with the winger said to also be attracting interest from Tottenham.

There has since been an update on the 24-year-old, as the Midlands side look to equip more star talent this summer.

What’s the latest on Nicolo Zaniolo to Aston Villa?

As reported in Italy (as relayed by Sport Witness), Zaniolo is ‘most prominently’ being followed by both Bayer Leverkusen and Villa.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

It’s noted that Galatasaray are hoping to clarify the status of the versatile forward’s future quickly, with it claimed that he ‘continues to receive offers and interest’.

Valued by FootballTransfers around the €18m (£15.5m) mark, Monchi could deliver another masterclass in capturing the signature of the highly-rated Italian this summer.

How good is Nicolo Zaniolo?

Despite having a career tainted by injury, the attacker has continued to prove himself as being a star talent on his day both in Serie A and the Turkish Super Lig.

Having once been hailed as “superb” and described as a “lethal playmaker” by writer Zach Lowy, the 24-year-old has continued to show his worth despite being forced down several paths of bad luck in such early days of his career.

In 2020, the Italian suffered two anterior cruciate ligament injuries, recovering from one he sustained in January to suffer the same injury in September that dealt him a double blow of extended periods on the sidelines.

The versatile attacking midfielder struggled to become reintegrated into the side at Roma, however, found his feet again at Galatasaray, signing for the Turkish champions back in February.

Following his arrival, the Massa-born gem has made a fast impact for the Lions, scoring five goals in just 10 appearances, with only two coming from starts in the league, via Sofascore.

Deployed primarily as an attacking midfielder, the Italy international has been used in the past on the right flank with the ability to cut in on his favoured left foot to cause havoc.

In capturing Zaniolo, it wouldn’t be the first time that Villa Park has seen an electrifying wide player with the versatility to play across the field.

Labelled as “magnificent” by pundit Michael Brown, former Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi could have his dynamism on the right side replicated by the 24-year-old.

The two are similar in their approach to play, as supported by the numbers recorded by Zaniolo in his previous consistent season in Serie A and by the former Villa man in his final Premier League campaign in England.

As per FBref, in the 2021/22 Serie A term, the former Roma whiz averaged 2.56 successful take-ons and 3.97 progressive carries per 90, similar numbers to the Dutchman who recorded an average of 2.79 progressive carries and 1.45 successful take-ons per 90 in claret and blue.

While El Ghazi has moved on to pastures new with PSV, his energy and potency in the final third will be remembered at Villa Park, with the reported target having the ability to bring such attributes.

With significant interest listed in the player, Monchi and Emery must act fast if they are serious about obtaining the Italian maestro.

Footage has emerged of Manchester City midfielder Rico Lewis being hit in the head by a cigarette lighter thrown by a fan.

What happened between Manchester City and Burnley?

Playing in the opening game of the 2023/24 Premier League season, the current holders travelled to face newly promoted Burnley.

Of course, this was former City captain Vincent Kompany welcoming his ex-team to Turf Moor and he would have been desperate for a good start.

However, quite the opposite happened as last season’s Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland opened the scoring after just four minutes.

Not long after, Burnley attempted to come forward but City youngster Lewis won the ball back by his own corner flag, before being bundled over to win a foul after a clumsy challenge by Josh Cullen – as you can see below.

As he was knocked to the ground, and a foul was given, before a Burnley supporter embarrassed their own fanbase by belting what appeared to be a cigarette lighter at Lewis’ head from close range – as you can see in the footage shared on Twitter.

You can also see another angle with this image below.

Unsurprisingly, the 18-year-old was left clutching his head in pain but was fortunately able to continue with the game after eventually getting back to his feet, while authorities at Turf Moor were left to investigate.

Burnley have since released a statement on Twitter, writing: “We are aware of an incident that happened in the first half of the match where a missile was thrown at Manchester City player Rico Lewis.

“This is unacceptable. The person responsible has been identified and removed from the ground by the police.

” Any individual found guilty of throwing missiles within the stadium will receive a banning order.”

Fans on social media were understandably furious and vented their anger. Here are some of the best reactions…

Who is Rico Lewis and where does he play?

Still only 18 years of age, the teenager has managed to earn the trust of his manager Pep Guardiola enough to start this first game of the new campaign after bursting onto the scene last season.

Indeed, Lewis played 14 league games as City won the division, featured twice as they won the Champions League, and twice in the Carabao Cup – meaning he was well and truly involved in their Man City’s treble despite being so young.

What’s more, he has shown his versatility with his ability to play either as a right-back or sometimes as a deep midfielder.

Unsurprisingly, his manager has praised him highly in the past. For instance, back in January, Guardiola compared him to a former great from Bayern Munich.

He told the press (via Manchester Evening News): “There are players who play for themselves really well, but he has the ability to make all the team play better.

“He has this ability and it’s not easy to find it. He is our little Philipp Lahm.”

In the same press conference, Guardiola suggested that Lewis makes other players, like Kevin De Bruyne, play better.

Despite this incident, Lewis impressed again for City and played 79 minutes as his team won 3-0 thanks to a brace from Halaand and a second-half effort from Rodri.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke has shared an extensive Arsenal update on their exit plans and what the future holds for defender Rob Holding.

Who will Arsenal sell?

Following the marquee arrivals of goalkeeper David Raya, defender Jurrien Timber, club-record signing Declan Rice and forward Kai Havertz, Arsenal's summer expenditure totals over £200 million.

Mikel Arteta's side, as a result, are now tasked with balancing the books and shipping unwanted players out before deadline day on September 1.

USA international striker Folarin Balogun, who is up for sale at the right price, is commanding around £45 million with Fulham and other suitors abroad chasing his signature.

Meanwhile, the likes of Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe will be allowed to leave if buyers come in, with the latter proving to be a huge disappointment following his once-club record signing from Lille in 2019.

However, despite exit links surrounding defender Kieran Tierney, Arteta claimed in his most recent press conference on Thursday that there are no plans to offload the Scotsman.

"There are not any plans on doing anything like it," said the Arsenal boss.

"He [Tierney] played in the final so a player that plays five days before in the final is part of the plans for sure."

Arteta also hinted at the possibility of further signings this summer following a major injury blow to summer signing Timber.

"We did not plan for this injury so we have to assess now what the options, the best way to get the best out of the players that we have," explained the Spaniard.

"Because, as I said, my biggest challenge now is to get the best out of the players that we have. I cannot control anything that is not here and we are open and we have to be open to reacting if something happens.

"Not only with injuries but in the market as well and that is what we are doing."

Despite Timber's injury, it appears the writing could be on the wall for Holding, as reporter O'Rourke writes for Football Insider.

Indeed, the journalist claims Arsenal will be allowed to find a new club before September 1, with the north Londoners already rejecting a bid from Turkish side Besiktas.

They attempted to sign Holding on loan with an offer, but Arteta's side rejected it out of hand.

As well as the Englishman, it is relayed that the futures of both Tavares and Pepe are far from Arsenal.

What's been said about Rob Holding?

The 27-year-old has struggled for game time over these last 12 months as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have formed a solid partnership in central defence.

Journalist Charles Watts, though, expressed earlier this year that Holding is actually a very influential and "valuable" player in the Arsenal dressing room.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

"Clearly, people who were there [at the Emirates] said he played well," said Watts after the defender stepped in for the injured Saliba.

"And he's no Saliba, there's no doubt about it, but as a squad player, I think he's a very valuable, and really, really influential figure behind the scenes. Everyone loves him at Arsenal.”

Taking this into acccount, it isn't unreasonable for Arteta's men to expect a reasonable fee for his services.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag may turn to one of his former players to bolster his squad on the left-hand side of defence following recent injuries.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

The Red Devils have started the Premier League campaign in mixed fashion, securing narrow victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest sandwiched either side of an unconvincing defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, as per Sky Sports.

Nevertheless, Diogo Dalot had to deputise at left-back owing to a muscle injury to Luke Shaw. Tyrell Malacia is also sidelined due to a knock and several targets have become apparent in the final week of the window to strengthen what now appears to be a problem position at Old Trafford, as per 90min.

Chelsea have been contacted over the availability of Marc Cucurella; meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur full-back Sergio Reguilon and Barcelona veteran Marcos Alonso, who has Premier League experience from his time at Chelsea, may also emerge as alternative solutions.

Reports in Spain claim that Manchester United youngster Alvaro Fernandez could move on loan to Spanish side Granada in the coming days, which could deplete Ten Hag's options even further in the left-back department.

Brandon Williams has completed a season-long loan move to Ipswich Town and it is clear that the Red Devils need to do some further work in the market to ensure viable options are available on the left-hand side of their backline until Shaw and Malacia return from their respective injury struggles.

Ryan Bertrand, formerly of Leicester City, has been shortlisted as yet another potential candidate to join Manchester United, according to The Daily Express.

Manchester United could also even come into the question for Leicester City left-back Luke Thomas. However, the Red Devils could have an advantage in the negotiation process due to the fact the Foxes are reluctant to sell or loan him to a direct rival in the Championship, with Leeds also keen, as per The Daily Mail.

Who else could Manchester United acquire?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has issued an update on Manchester United's state of play surrounding any potential arrivals at left-back and one familiar face who has previously worked under Ten Hag has emerged as an option, as he stated on X:

"Manchester United are still discussing internally about best option for new left back. Contacts took place today again for Cucurella, also Marcos Alonso and Reguilon remain in list. United also called to ask for conditions for Tagliafico deal, well known by Ten Hag."

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

£75k-a-week earner Tagliafico is currently on the books of Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, where he has made 42 appearances for the club across all competitions, registering two goals and five assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Having worked previously under Ten Hag at Ajax, Tagliafico, who was once labelled as "top-quality" in the past by pundit Noel Whelan, has demonstrated his quality in both defence and attack in the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign, completing an average of 2.7 clearances and 2.3 dribbles averaged out over his opening three appearances in the French top-flight, as shown on WhoScored.

Tagliafico, a World Cup winner, has enjoyed a distinguished career at the elite level and his arrival could be a timely boost for Manchester United if there is scope for any deal to be completed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers had a trialling summer of business, with the majority of their transfer window overwhelmed by the club’s financial restrictions.

The departure of Julen Lopetegui as a result of such constraints left the Old Gold managerless just five days prior to their opening Premier League fixture, with Gary O’Neil arriving swiftly to restore the security.

Despite the woes regarding Financial Fair Play (FFP), Wolves still welcomed eight new arrivals, as well as bidding farewell to some familiar faces as 11 players left the club on a permanent basis.

Amid all the change surrounding the first team, the Midlands side’s academy remained strong, with a host of talent having the potential to find a way into the senior team as a result of some exits.

Who is Owen Farmer?

Named in The Guardian’s list of the ‘best talents at Premier League clubs’ back in 2021, 19-year-old Owen Farmer continues to impress within Wolves’ academy.

Deployed as a striker, the Solihull-born ace became a part of the Old Gold’s academy when he was 14, and has risen through the ranks since competing in both the Premier League 2 and U18 Premier League competitions.

The youngster’s biggest attribute is his quality in finishing, with academy coach and former senior interim coach Steve Davis praising the teen for scoring “poacher’s goals” when called upon.

Along with fellow academy sharp shooter Nathan Fraser, who is beginning to find a way in with the first team, O’Neil has two young forwards to consider for the future who have both displayed their ability at youth level.

What could Owen Farmer offer to O’Neil?

After losing the predatory presence of Raul Jimenez – who previously scored 30 league goals in his first two seasons in England – over the summer, O’Neil is short in the striker area, as highlighted by his deadline day attempts to sign Southampton’s Che Adams.

Lauded as being “sharp, bright, intelligent and can use both feet” by U21 coach James Collins, Farmer could be one to watch for the season ahead, as the new manager finds his feet and revises his best options going forward.

Collins tipped the youngster to have a “bright future”, with Wolves being a promising club to be at present, considering the side’s number one striker being just 21 himself.

Fabio Silva took on the number nine shirt this summer, suggesting how much faith is being placed in the rising talent’s ability to lead the line at Molineux.

This being said, the Portuguese gem is, as expected, taking time to adapt to the Premier League, after endeavoring on two separate loan spells last campaign to further his experience.

In four league appearances this season, the Portuguese forward is yet to score and has missed two big chances, amplifying that despite his placing in the pecking order, there is room for improvement going forward.

This is where Farmer could find a way into the side under O’Neil, with the teen already showing his strengths in front of goal by scoring once and assisting twice in four games played in the Premier League 2 so far.

The 19-year-old will be motivated by his academy partner’s debut in the first team, as Fraser scored and assisted in his first senior appearance in 2023/24 in the Carabao Cup last month.

Despite missing out on summer targets and losing Jimenez, O’Neil has some options to consider to compete with Silva, with Farmer having the potential to follow in Fraser’s footsteps and make a statement in the near future.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou seemingly has a plan for midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, as journalist Paul Brown shares some detail.

What happened to Giovani Lo Celso?

Signing from Real Betis on a permanent deal under Jose Mourinho in January 2020, Lo Celso has endured a mixed Spurs career since.

The Argentine midfielder, who clinched a World Cup winner's medal with his country in Qatar last year, has gone out on two separate loan spells to Villarreal – where he featured regularly over the 21/22 and 22/23 seasons.

There were reports that Lo Celso could've been sold over the summer transfer window, as former side Betis even displayed a real interest in bringing the South American back to Spain once again.

However, new Spurs boss Postecoglou is a fan of the midfielder, as he explained earlier in the summer. When asked about reports in La Liga linking him with a return to the league, Postecoglou explained:

“You don't have to go to Spain mate, you can just ask me. Yeah, I like Gio. He fits the way we play. I enjoy working with him and he seems to enjoy working with us.”

The 27-year-old, before a recent injury, started to feature more and more under Postecoglou – playing 16 league minutes before starting their Carabao Cup second round clash against Fulham last week (WhoScored).

The tables are seemingly turning for Lo Celso, with reporter Brown telling GiveMeSport that the player is set to feature regularly in Tottenham's plans moving forward.

"Yeah, there's been some interest in Spurs' players," said Brown on deadline day.

"I know there are several clubs that wanted Lo Celso; it seems pretty clear that he's sticking around. We asked Postecoglou again today and the message was that while he's got a small injury, he's considered part of the squad now and quite a key member of it.

"He seems to be considered now a kind of backup or substitute option for Maddison in those areas of the pitch, so I think he's going to get minutes this season and will stay."

What's been said about Giovani Lo Celso?

It appears Lo Celso has a chance to resurrect his Spurs career after failing to impress in recent campaigns.

When he wasn't out on loan, the Argentine's performances in a Lilywhites jersey attracted criticism from members of the media like Spurs pundit John Wenham – who once called him a "passenger" during Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure in charge.

“One player I really want to talk about is Lo Celso,” said Wenham to Football Insider after a Lo Celso performance against Man United.

“He came in against Man United which was another baffling decision by Nuno.

“It was another poor performance from him. Under Conte, he has everything to prove to convince him he’s worth keeping around. Conte won’t suffer fools.”

Following some of his past outings, Lo Celso may now have a chance to turn his fortunes around under Postecoglou.

Aston Villa have had a memorable year so far, with the majority of their recent success down to the influence of manager Unai Emery.

The Spaniard arrived at Villa Park in October 2022 following the dismissal of Steven Gerrard, and has made his mark on the club in such a short period of time, telling of the highs that could still come for the Villans.

The Midlands club were sat in 16th place at the time of his arrival, ending the season with a spot in the Europa Conference league, marking their first European involvement since 2010.

Away from the pitch, the former Arsenal boss has had a terrific spell too, welcoming five new faces to his squad in the bid to bolster the quality on show for the season ahead.

While Emery and Monchi recorded a particularly successful transfer window, things have not always worked out for Villa’s signings in the past, with one name even linked with a Villa Park reunion this summer.

How much did Aston Villa spend on Adama Traore?

Purchased from Barcelona in 2015, teenage sensation Adama Traore was captured by Tim Sherwood for a figure of £7.1m, rumoured to rise to £8.6m if certain conditions were met.

The winger earned a weekly wage of £22.5k at Villa Park, with a yearly salary amounting to £1.1m, in a transfer that had those in the Midlands excited about what was to come.

At the time of his unveiling, Sherwood lauded his new signing as a “maverick-type” talent and labelled his ability with reference to other talents as being “few and far between”.

A year after his arrival, the Spaniard bid farewell to Villa after making little impact on the side, in a move that cost the club almost £9m when considering his transfer and wage fees in the period.

Was he worth that much?

The summer after his arrival, Traore left Villa after making just 12 appearances for the side during the season that saw them relegated from the top flight.

In that period, the Spaniard scored once in the League Cup, falling out of favour with new manager Remi Garde who branded the winger as a “problem” for his inability to stick to tactical demands and remain consistent in his performance.

His 12 appearances over his year stay amounted to Villa paying him around £91k per game, to which he made no impact and subsequently left Villa Park so shortly after his arrival.

Adama Traore Premier League record

All figures via Transfermarkt

This summer, it was rumoured that Villa were eyeing a move to bring the former Barcelona talent back to the club after his contract with Wolves expired, however the 27-year-old opted for Fulham instead.

Following his exit from the claret and blues, Traore went on to make 197 appearances in the Premier League, and counting, however has only netted 10 goals during that time, telling of Villa’s correct decision to sell him.

Poor discipline and inconsistency drove the Midlands side to no option but to offload him, in what was a smart move with the player described as the “most frustrating player a manager could have” by Jason Cundy on talkSPORT earlier this year.

While the Spaniard cost Villa a hefty amount with regard to his contribution, the Villans will be reassured of their decision to sell him at the time to ensure he didn’t rinse the club any further.

Heart of Midlothian have suffered a few transfer howlers over the years, with a variety of players either leaving for nothing or being sold far too cheaply.

A perfect example is that of Josh Ginnelly. The former Hearts winger joined the club for free when his Preston North End contract expired in 2021, and he went on to be a big success at Tynecastle.

Across two full seasons, the Englishman scored 18 goals and grabbed 11 assists in a hugely productive spell in Edinburgh for the player.

As he was coming towards the end of his contract last season, Hearts offered him an improved deal, yet he turned it down and left the Jambos for nothing, going on to join Swansea City shortly after.

It represented a massive blow for Steven Naismith, who could have used his abilities this term, but it isn’t the first time Hearts have allowed this to happen.

John Souttar is another recent example of a player coming into their best form departing the club for nothing, as he joined Rangers on a pre-contract agreement last summer, yet there is another name who Hearts supporters will wish had remained at the Gorgie outfit for a few years longer – Aaron Hickey.

How much did Hearts sell Aaron Hickey for?

The left-back emerged as one of the finest talents the academy had produced in years during the 2019/20 campaign, going on to make 30 appearances across all competitions, and it was clear that he wouldn’t be with them for long.

Robbie Neilson, who had just returned to the managerial role, expected plenty of potential suitors for the youngster, saying: “I expect interest but my hope is that he comes back to pre-season.

“My hope is he plays for us over the season and we can tie him down to a longer deal.

“He’s still a young kid and he still needs to develop. This is a great place for him to do that. Those will be conversations we have with him in the coming weeks and we’ll see how it goes. We want to keep hold of our best players and Aaron comes into that category.

“He’s shown great potential but at the moment it is potential. From Aaron’s perspective, it’s important he plays matches.”

The motivational talk didn’t work as Hickey ended up signing for Italian side Bologna for a £1.5m transfer fee. This sounds like a solid bit of business, especially as he was coming into the final year of his deal, but his performances since departing Tynecastle have proven that the club had a shocker by selling him for so cheap.

What happened to Aaron Hickey?

The defender enjoyed a wonderful two-year spell in Serie A, going on to make 48 appearances for the club while even scoring five goals during his stint in Italy.

During his second season at Bologna, Hickey performed well and ranked in fourth place across the squad for goals and assists and seventh for successful dribbles per game, giving a demonstration of his attacking intent despite playing at left-back.

These displays caught the eyes of several teams and his brief spell in Italy was soon to be over, with a move back to British shores fast approaching.

Where is Aaron Hickey now?

Premier League side Brentford were mightily impressed with Hickey during his spell on the continent, and they managed to lure him to England, with the move costing the club £14m, a massive increase on the £1.5m Hearts sold him for just two years prior.

Manager Thomas Frank lauded the youngster upon his arrival, saying: "I am very pleased to sign Aaron.

"What he has already achieved in his career is very impressive. He is only 20 and has played a full season in Scotland as well as almost two seasons in Serie A.

"We think that Aaron is a player with great potential, who already has an impressive number of games at a good level under his belt.”

It has since gone on to be a great piece of business by the Bees, as they have turned Hickey from an extremely talented youngster into a player who is currently thriving in the English top flight.

As per Sofascore, he ranked sixth among the squad for accurate passes per game last term along with ranking sixth for successful dribbles per game and tackles per game, indicating that he settled in well at the club.

The 5 foot 8 starlet is also versatile in that he can operate either on the left or right-hand side of the defence and this isn’t just a big boost for Frank, but also for Steve Clarke, the Scotland manager.

How much is Aaron Hickey worth now?

The 21-year-old has won 11 Scotland caps so far during his short career and there will be plenty more in the future. The defender was even praised recently by commentator Mark Donaldson in 2021 with regard to his flexibility.

He said: “Aaron Hickey just as comfortable on his right-foot. A potential option for Scotland at right-back in future to compete with Nathan Patterson?”

He is only going to get better, especially as he plays more games in the Premier League and there is no doubt he will go on to play for a club such as Arsenal or Liverpool in the near future.

Having left Hearts for just £1.5m, Hickey is now valued at a staggering €21.8m (£19m) according to Football Transfers and this value should just keep increasing as time goes on.

Of course, it was inevitable that he was destined to leave Hearts for bigger and brighter things, yet if they had convinced him to sign a new deal during the summer of 2020 and held onto him for a season or two longer, they might’ve received a far greater transfer fee.

It was a major blow losing him so soon after shining in the first team, yet his progress should give the other youngsters in the academy plenty of hope that if they work hard and take the opportunities presented to them by Naismith, they might also get to experience the bright lights of Serie A or the Premier League in the future.