Leeds United are still ‘pressing’ to seal the signing of Torino right-back Ola Aina in the January transfer window, according to a fresh transfer rumour.
The Lowdown: Aina linked with Leeds move
It has been a quiet start to the month at Elland Road but it would be a surprise if no new faces arrived in the coming weeks, given the horrendous injury crisis Marcelo Bielsa is currently contending with.
One player who has been linked with a move to Leeds is Aina, who has made 13 Serie A appearances for Torino this season, continuing to impress after graduating from Chelsea‘s youth academy.
Despite this, the Italian club don’t appear to be against the idea of letting the 25-year-old leave this month, no doubt giving the Whites hope that a deal can be struck.
The Latest: Whites still ‘pressing’
According to Corriere Granata [via Sport Witness], Leeds are still hoping to get a deal sorted imminently and the two clubs will ‘continue to negotiate’.
It is stated that there is ‘no agreement’ in place yet for the former Chelsea man, though.
The Verdict: Good news
Given the number of stories emerging, it does look as though Leeds see Aina as a genuine option and he could be a shrewd signing for Bielsa.
At 25, he is five years younger than Luke Ayling and could represent a long-term replacement for him, having made an impressive six tackles and four clearances for Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Egypt earlier this week, earning him Whoscored’s Man of the Match award.
On the contrary, Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah was completely shut down by Aina and his Super Eagles teammates, as he mustered the second-lowest rating of the 22 starters while the Serie A man thrived.
Aina’s current Torino deal expires in the summer of 2o23, highlighting the fact that they are running out of time to receive a fee for him, which arguably makes a move even more likely.
In other news, a journalist has claimed that Leeds won’t be signing one player. Find out who it is here.
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