Leeds United are reportedly interested in bringing Torino ace and former Chelsea full-back Ola Aina back to England.
According to Torino Granata, Leeds United have Torino full-back, Ola Aina, in their sights, with the Serie A club are hoping for January offers to arrive for the Nigerian international.
The 26-year-old, who came through the ranks at Chelsea, had a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge earlier in his career and only ever made six first-team appearances for the Blues.
He had a loan spell at Hull City before heading to Torino in 2018, initially on loan before completing a permanent move the following year. He has since gone on to prove himself to be a solid utility option for Torino, for whom he has made over 100 appearances across all competitions.
The Nigerian international did make a Premier League return in 2020, joining Fulham on a season-long loan during the 2020-21 campaign, where he vastly impressed as a supremely athletic attacking full-back under then-boss Scott Parker and racked up 31 Premier League outings, chipping in with two goals and an assist.
However, a permanent move to the Cottagers failed to materialise following their relegation to the Championship. He played a bit-part role for the Turin-based outfit last season, sharing first-team minutes with rising 21-year-old Ivory Coast international Wilfried Singo.
He won back his place under boss Ivan Juric at the start of the ongoing campaign before being sidelined due to a hamstring problem and is expected to be fit for the second part of the season.
The 26-year-old’s current contract at Turin expires in June 2023, and he has shown little inclination to sign an extension amid Premier League interest. Torino are still unsure about his next move and are open to both selling him for a small sum in January or renewing his contract to protect his value, as they think he could be a handy alternative in the wake of Singo’s underperformance this season.
The report mentions that both West Ham United and Leeds United enquired about the former Chelsea defender last summer, with the latter now looking to reignite their interest in him in the upcoming January transfer window.
Leeds could do with some depth at left-back, with boss Jesse Marsch currently operating with only one natural option in Junior Firpo, who has struggled with injuries and made just two Premier League appearances in 2022/23.
Aina could be a viable option; he is strong, quick along the ground, and is also a very good defender. There are better options out there for Leeds United and Marsch for sure, including the recently linked high-profile names such as Raphael Guerreiro or Gerardo Arteaga.
But Aina would be the most affordable option, available at a bargain price and heading towards the final six months of his contract with the Granata. Capable of playing across the entire defence and in more advanced wing roles, Aina would be an excellent addition to Jesse Marsch’s squad.
Albeit perhaps not a player with the top-level talent to excite the fans, the Nigerian’s ability to supplement numerous positions is of benefit to almost any roster. He also has the vital experience of playing in the Premier League, as well as the rigors of a relegation battle.
![Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 3: Messi masterclass ensures all three points [Best Tweets]](https://thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FBL-ESP-LIGA-REALMADRID-BARCELONA.jpg)