With just a few months left in his contract and the Bulls are yet to place a solid offer on the table, Super Eagles fullback Ola Aina faces uncertainty concerning his future as his contract expires at the end of the season, and contract extension talks at Torino have stalled so far. However, Premier League side, Leeds United are set to cash-in on the Nigeria international’s situation
Leeds United have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Aina to Elland Road in the January transfer window.
That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), who claim that, after being linked with a move for the Torino full-back over the course of the summer, Victor Orta could now be handed a second chance to land the 26-year-old this winter, with the Serie A side now said to be ‘on the hunt for potential buyers’ in January.
The report goes on to state that this is down to the fact that the Nigeria international’s current contract at the Stadio Olimpico is set to expire at the end of the season, with technical director Davide Vagnati eager to receive some sort of fee for a player he valued at £8.7m in the summer transfer window.
Considering just how solid Aina has been for Torino in recent seasons, coupled with the fact the former Chelsea starlet is able to feature from either left or right-back, the argument that Orta simply must launch a move for the defender in January is an incredibly easy one to make.
Indeed, over his 21 Serie A appearances – 15 of which came from left wing-back – last season, the £3.6m-rated talent highly impressed in an attacking capacity, creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.
The £31k-per-week full-back also caught the eye in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 1.2 clearances and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 53 per cent – per game, with these returns seeing the player who Michael Oti Adjei dubbed “unreal” average an impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.82.
It has been a similar story over his 10 league outings – six of which have come at left wing-back – in the current campaign, with the 26-year-old having already scored one goal and created three big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 0.7 key passes, 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 55 per cent per game.
Aina joined Torino in 2019, but he went on a season-long to Fulham. The Super Eagles defender then returned to Turin after an unsuccessful stint in London.
Last summer, Aina was linked with a move to the Premier League, with West Ham and Fulham amongst his suitors. However, the Chelsea Academy product remained at Torino.
Aina has had a decent season at Torino, featuring in 10 of their games and scoring once. Nonetheless, his future still hangs in the balance, as his contract expires at the end of the season.
According to Torinogranata, the club has not entered serious talks with Aina concerning a new contract. As such, the Nigerian defender is free to leave when his contract expires in June.
Aina could favour a return to the Premier League, as he was strongly linked with Fulham and West Ham this season. Aside from his two-year stay at Torino, Aina has never played for any team outside the shores of England.
Aina was linked with a move away from the club last summer after losing his place in the starting line-up during the second half of the campaign.
The 26-year-old has, however, reclaimed his place in the starting line-up this season making 10 league appearances with a goal to his name.
Premier League clubs, West Ham United and Fulham showed interest in the player last summer.
The Super Eagles star is no longer happy in Turin, and he could be on the move by next summer and the Italian Serie A side have slammed a 10million euros fee on the Super Eagles.
The Super Eagles star left Chelsea for the Bulls in 2019. After a season which saw him make 32 league appearances, he returned to the Premier League on a loan deal at Fulham.
However, he returned to Torino last summer after Fulham got relegated to the Championship.
At the beginning of the season, the 25-year-old was a crucial part of the Torino backline. But since he returned from the African Cup of Nations, things have not been the same.
According to FootballNews24, Torino are willing to let the Chelsea academy product leave, but they would request for 10million euros before they let Aina go.
Aina has spent most of his life in England, and it is expected that he would favour a return to the Premier League rather than elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Aina will resume training in the next few days following a short spell on the sidelines.
Aina has failed to make an appearance for Torino since copping an injury in the club’s 2-1 win against Udinese on October 23.
The 26-year-old has missed Ivan Juric side’s last four league games as a result of the setback.
According to Torino Granata, Aina is only a few days away from joining Torino’s first team training.
The versatile defender is expected to link up with his Torino teammates in Philadelphia, United States of America, next Monday.
The Torino players, who are not involved in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, will be in the US for a training tour.
