Crystal Palace will compete with Glasgow Celtic for the signing of Hearts’ young defender Aaron Hickey in the summer transfer window, according to The Sun.
The Eagles have been going through a decent season where they are currently placed in 11th position on the Premier League table with 39 points after 29 matches, 12 clear of the relegation zone.
With Premier League football nearly certain for the next season, Palace manager Roy Hodgson will now be planning for a busy summer where one of his top priorities will be to bolster the defensive unit for the future campaigns.
Therefore, as per the Sun, Palace and Celtic are ready to compete for the signing of Hickey in the summer transfer window.
The 17-year-old is very highly-rated and would be an exciting addition at either Selhurst Park or Parkhead.
However, it is believed that his future is once again uncertain with Hearts demanding players to take 50% pay cuts due to Coronavirus outbreak.
Hickey is a Hearts’ academy product and is having a really good debut season for the first-team, where he has a goal and an assist to his name in 30 appearances in all competitions.
Celtic have the likes of Greg Taylor, Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo as options at left-back, but Hickey will be tempted to move to the Glasgow giants for a chance to win silverware.
The Hearts man will also have seen the success that Kieran Tierney had at Parkhead and perhaps treat the Scotland international’s rise top prominence as a blueprint for his own career.
Palace also have plenty of options in the full-back positions and a move to London would almost certainly mean a stint in the reserves or out on loan.
One way or the other, Hickey looks set to be a future star and it is understandable why Palace and Celtic are both reportedly hot on his heels as the summer transfer window approaches.
