Aston Villa already on hunt for Matt Targett replacement, bid rejected for Serie A star

Aston Villa have had a bid rejected for young Bologna left-back Aaron Hickey, that’s according to Italian outlet Il Resto del Carlino.

This comes as the claret & blue look to act quick in replacing the outgoing Matt Targett who is expected to join fellow Premier League side Newcastle United over the coming hours.

Villa are long term admirers of Bologna’s Hickey and it was well publicised that they were tracking the young Scot during the summer transfer window.

Lucas Digne’s arrival at Villa Park during the beginning of January seemed to put to bed any potential move for the 19-year-old but with Targett now expected to exit the club, it looks as though interest has been renewed.

The Italian outlet claim Villa’s initial bid that has been knocked back by the Serie A side is in the region of £8.5million with Bologna wanting closer to £12million for their teenage starlet.

If Targett is, as expected, allowed to leave the west midlands in the coming hours it would come as no shock to see the claret & blue come in with an improved offer for the full-back.

The 19-year-old has played 21 games in Serie A so far this campaign, bagging himself four goals in the process.

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