By Wayne Veysey

5th Sep, 2020 | 7:45am

Exclusive: Left footer set to join new club this weekend after extensive Hoops talks

Celtic are set to lose out on signing teen sensation Aaron Hickey after Bologna sealed a breakthrough in talks with Hearts, Football Insider has learned.

The Scottish giants have held extensive discussions this summer over prising the left-back, 18, from Tynecastle before the window shuts on 5 October.

A Celtic source has told Football Insider that the club have pulled out of the race to sign Hickey after being told he has agreed personal terms with Bologna.

The Serie A club are now finalising the structure of the deal with Hearts and contracts are expected to be signed this weekend.

Hickey could join on an initial loan that Bologna are obliged to convert into a permanent transfer next summer, or it could be a straight, full-time deal.

The teenager is expected to arrive in Italy in the coming days to complete the formalities of the transfer.

It comes after extensive speculation he is headed out of Edinburgh following strong interest from top clubs including Bayern Munich as well as Celtic.

But Bologna have won the race after earmarking Hickey for a first-team role rather than one in which he is eased into a team more gradually.

The youngster broke into the Hearts team aged 16 and has already accumulated 34 first-team appearances.

Celtic have made four senior signings this summer as they prepare for their historic 10-in-a-row tilt.

The Scottish champions have signed Greek international goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, Swiss striker Albian Ajeti and Scottish rising star David Turnbull on permanent deals and Irish defender Shane Duffy on a season-long loan.

In other news, Celtic have completed a “brilliant” new signing in deal worth £4m.