Napoli are set to challenge Celtic for Aaron Hickey’s signature after the Serie A giants launched a shock move for the former Hearts full back.
Former Napoli manager Gianni di Marzio works for the Italian club as a transfer consultant and has urged them to sign the teenager star from Bologna.
The 19-year-old defender is due to return to Italy for pre-season training in the next couple of weeks after recovering from a shoulder operation following injuries in his first season in Serie A.
Hickey is a £3 million target for Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops but Luciano Spalletti has now been urged to make a move for Hickey by Napoli legend di Marzio.
He said: "Napoli need to make some serious changes to their team for the new season. They have to get rid of players and recruit well.
"I'm looking at someone like Aaron Hickey of Bologna - I see him as being a perfect fit for Napoli.
"Hickey is a very good, young player. He knows how to do both the defensive side of the game and he's very dangerous in an attacking sense.
"Of course, it would depend on how much he is available for and how much Napoli wants to invest, but he has to be someone that would interest them.”
Hickey, who cost Bologna just £1.5 million when he moved last season, made 12 appearances for Sinisa Mihajlovic's side last season before injury curtailed his campaign.
