---
title: "Leeds: Whites ‘in the lead’ to sign Ola Aina"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-premier-league-ola-aina-transfer-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2023-01-07T07:20:18Z"
modified: "2023-01-07T07:20:18Z"
---

# Leeds: Whites ‘in the lead’ to sign Ola Aina

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) are believed to be ‘in the lead’ in the race to sign Torino defender Ola Aina, according to a new transfer report from Italy.**

### The Lowdown: Aina a key figure for Torino

The Nigerian has matured into an important squad player for his current club in Serie A, making [103 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ola-aina/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/236490/verein/416) for them to date.

However, Aina has been limited to just [seven league starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/315543/Show/Ola-Aina) this season, and it could be that a new challenge comes his way in the current transfer window.

The 26-year-old was [linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-united-whites-could-make-fresh-move-to-sign-ola-aina/) with a move to Leeds in December, and a new update has emerged in that regard.

### The Latest: Leeds ‘in the lead’ for Aina

According to [Tuttosport](https://www.tuttosport.com/) \[via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-lead-conceivable-marsch-target-will-sold-e5-6m-whites-interested-deal/)\], the Whites are currently ‘in the lead’ for Aina’s signature, with the defender ‘destined’ to leave Torino after some ‘erratic’ performances.

His current deal [expires](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ola-aina/profil/spieler/236490) at the end of this season, so a January exit could allow him to earn Torino some money from selling him this month.

[![Latest Leeds United updates](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-13/)

### The Verdict: Good versatile option

Admittedly, Aina hasn’t been pulling up any trees with his displays this season, but he could still prove to be a handy prospective addition for Jesse Marsch this month. He has been described as a ‘[great player](https://nigeriasoccernet.com/serie-a-juric-sings-ola-aina-praise)‘ by Torino manager Ivan Juric, despite his patchy form of late.

The [29-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ola-aina/profil/spieler/236490) Nigeria international’s positional flexibility is something which stands out as a positive – he has been hailed as [“Mr Versatile”](https://thisisfutbol.com/2021/02/blogs/premier-league/fulham-podcaster-gushes-over-ola-aina/) in the past by Fulham podcaster Sammy James – and he is [capable of playing](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ola-aina/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/236490) at centre-back, full-back and in a defensive midfield role.

The reports that Torino are keen to sell could put Leeds in a strong bargaining position, allowing Victor Orta and co to sign him on the cheap and arguably for a cut-price figure.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418869″\]