Southampton appear to have identified Aaron Hickey as a genuine target ahead of the January transfer window.
Recent reports suggested that Saints had expressed an interest in signing the 17-year-old, who has emerged as a key player in the first team for Hearts.
However, fresh claims from The Daily Record rather firm up Southampton’s admiration of Hickey, and state that club scouts have regularly watched the defender since last season.
Saints chief Ross Wilson is reported to have received ‘a number of reports’ from his talent-spotters in Scotland about the left-back, who is also on the radar of Manchester City.
Read Southampton’s verdict
It seems like Hickey is a player who Saints are fond of, and it’s rather easy to see why. He has quickly adjusted to the demands of senior football and is playing regularly despite his tender years.
Southampton might be keen to add to their left-back options in January, with the experienced Ryan Bertrand drifting in and out of the team in the opening stages of the new season.
Matt Targett’s summer exit left Jake Vokins with a chance to step up and become the clear understudy for Bertrand, but the academy graduate does not yet appear to have convinced Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Therefore, adding another left-back to the squad to compete with the England international and push for a long-term role in the manager’s plans could be on Wilson’s agenda in January.
