Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in signing Torino defender Ola Aina, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness).
The lowdown: Career so far
One of many top talents swept up by the Chelsea academy, Aina has forged a path to the elite level in Italy following a successful loan spell at Hull City in 2017/18, where the versatile full-back made 46 appearances.
The London-born 25-year-old has amassed 92 first-team outings for the Serie A outfit and has also become a fully-fledged Nigeria international in the process, having previously represented England at various youth levels.
Now in the final 12 months of a contract in Turin (Transfermarkt), it appears as though a return to the Premier League could be on the horizon for Aina…
The latest: Forest cited
As per Gazzetta dello Sport, translated by SW, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are both keen on signing the 29-cap ace this summer.
It’s claimed that Aina has been ‘closely watched’ by the two English clubs as Steve Cooper attempts to bolster the defensive ranks at the City Ground following promotion.
The report also states that the ‘potential is high’ for the man who was officially named as the fastest player in Serie A during the 2018/19 campaign.
The verdict: Strength in numbers
Valued at just £3.15million and earning an affordable £24,000 per week (Salary Sport), a genuine move for Aina would be a wholly worthwhile venture for Forest given the Nigerian’s supreme versatility.
Equally adept as a right or left-back and capable of playing in more advanced positions too, the former Chelsea prodigy would be an excellent addition to Cooper’s ranks in what will almost certainly be a long campaign, punctuated by the scheduling around the World Cup.
Last season, Aina continued to prove his worth at the top level, earning an impressive 6.82 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.3 duels, making 1.3 interceptions and 1.2 clearances per Serie A outing, and a move from the Reds should be a welcome one at this stage regardless of what happens with other targets such as Neco Williams.
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