Aaron Hickey's transfer from Hearts to Bologna is being reported as an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer.
This allows the Italian side to structure the payments over a longer period.
The 18-year-old full back is expected to sign with the Serie A club shortly after a deal was agreed with the Tynecastle club. A fee in the region of £1.8million has reportedly been agreed, although 30 per cent of this will go to Celtic as part of the sell-on clause agreed when he departed Parkhead for Hearts.
It is believed the opportunity to play first team football was the key to Hickey choosing Bologna over Bayern Munich. Sporting director Walter Sabatini has assured him he'll be the initial back-up to current first choice Mitchell Dijks.
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Sky Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio says that it's a done deal and the transfer is expected to be confirmed today (Friday).
