Arsenal have reportedly decided to up their bid for Aaron Hickey after Brentford saw their first attempt to sign him rejected by Bologna.
football.london understands Scottish left-back Hickey is one name that has caught the attention of Mikel Arteta and Edu. The 19-year-old even recently admitted that he sees all the speculation surrounding his future in Serie A.
Speaking to Sky Sports, via the Scottish Express, he said: "I do see quite a lot of talk. One of my friends text me today saying 'what's happening here, lad?' They're sending me stuff for transfers and talks, but it's nice to know there is interest from other clubs. It gives you some confidence and stuff. You just keep your head down and focus in football."
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Now, according to Corriere dello Sport, as seen on Reddit, Brentford made an official offer for Aaron Hickey, worth €11million (£9.4million), in addition to a sell-on percentage but Bologna rejected the offer as it was too low.
The report adds that sources close to Arsenal have told the Italian outlet that the Gunners will make an offer of approximately €25million (£21.3million) to tempt the Serie A club into selling the Scottish full-back.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Manchester City full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, though it's believed that Mikel Arteta sees the Ukrainian as a versatile option who'll predominantly play in the midfield under his tutelage.
Signing both Hickey and Zinchenko would be a massive statement from the Gunners as they head into preparations for the new season. Whether they can get deals over the line is another question though.
