It’s very common to hear that a club will be entitled to a cut of a transfer fee when a former player is sold by another club, but there is a weird quirk when they look to buy them back.

Essentially it gives them a discount on the overall fee, and it sounds like that could be the case with Celtic and Aaron Hickey.

As reported by The Athletic (subscription required) via Give Me Sport, Celtic are entitled to 30% of any fee that Hearts would receive if they sell the full back.

The problem is that Celtic are interested in buying him back themselves, so that could make it a less enticing proposal for the Edinburgh club.

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As a result, they report that Celtic would be willing to waive that clause and allow Hearts to keep the whole fee if they can sign him this summer, and that might be enough to convince them to sell.

It’s also not been fully decided at this point, but it is starting to look like Hearts will be playing in the Championship next season, so the money from the sale could come as a welcome boost.

Hickey is still only 17 but he’s been a regular in the Hearts team, and it’s clear to see why there will be interest in him.

He’s a dogged defender who doesn’t give up, but he also gets forward and showed his class in the derby against Hibs where he scored a nice goal too.

Perhaps he wouldn’t be an immediate starter if he does return to Celtic Park, but it’s possible that Greg Taylor could move on in the next couple of years if he continues to impress, and Hickey would be an exciting replacement to have.