Arsenal have agreed terms with Bologna to sign 19-year-old Scotland international left-back Aaron Hickey for circa €25m, claim reports in Italy.
It was no secret that the Gunners were targeting the teenage sensation who has scored five Serie A goals this season.
Napoli, Milan and others were also keeping track of Hickey and preparing for a summer bid.
However, according to CalcioNapoli24, Bologna director Riccardo Bigon flew to London this weekend and was able to negotiate basic terms for a transfer.
It would be a move worth in the region of €20-25m, depending on various performance-related bonuses.
The clubs already have a strong rapport thanks to Arsenal signing Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna last summer for €18.6m plus add-ons.
It was a huge profit for the Rossoblu, who had paid just €7m to sign the Japan international from VV Sint-Truiden just two years earlier.
Hickey will turn 20 next month and was snapped up from Hearts for €1.7m in September 2020, so would represent an even quicker and more profitable turnaround for Bologna.