Leeds United have been boosted in their efforts to sign Torino defender Ola Aina, with the right-back allowed to leave in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Aina

The Whites were linked with a move for the 25-year-old last week as Marcelo Bielsa continues to eye up reinforcements to his squad.

Aina has made 16 Serie A appearances already this season, including 13 starts, and he is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Nigeria.

Torino seem to be open to the idea of the right-back moving on to pasture new, and a fresh update suggests that a move seems looks more than likely this month.

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The Latest: Whites offered fresh hope over Aina

According to Toro News [via Sport Witness], Aina 'can say goodbye' to his current club in January, instead looking for a new employer in the coming weeks.

A gradual drop in game-time throughout the campaign is mentioned in the report, with Torino no longer seeing him as a key player.

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The Verdict: Good squad signing

Aina could be an excellent squad addition for Leeds, coming in and providing backup to Luke Ayling, or even pushing him for the right-back role in Bielsa's line-up.

Former Fulham manager Scott Parker once claimed that the 25-year-old was 'Chelsea's loss' after snapping him up on loan from Stamford Bridge last season, and he also won 35 caps at England youth team levels before switching his allegiances to Nigeria, for whom he has earned 21 senior caps.

A January move makes sense for all parties, giving the defender a chance to thrive back in England and also boosting the options at Bielsa's disposal, which he would no doubt appreciate given the plethora of injuries at Elland Road of late.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a key Leeds transfer claim. Read more here.