Torino hope to renew Ola Aina contract as Leeds United aim to make transfer move
Serie A club Torino are hoping to renew Ola Aina’s contract soon despite maintained interest from Leeds United, according to Tuttosport.
The 26-year-old will see his current deal in Turin end in June 2023 and he has not shown any rush to put pen to paper on an extended deal with Premier League interest in him.
The Whites are leading the way in the chase for his signature although they could look to wait until the summer when they could get him for free if he doesn’t sign in Italy or elsewhere before then.
Aina has already had three spells in England having begun his professional career at Chelsea before loan spells at Hull City and Fulham.
The Nigerian international has seen his season curtailed by injury but he is starting to recover and could feature once more after the World Cup break where Leeds United can get a proper look at his ability.
Versatile
Aina won’t be the best player in any one position for Leeds should he choose Elland Road over Turin but he makes up for all of that with his ability to play in four or five positions.
As well as being comfortable all the way across the back four or five, he can also do a job further forward in a winger role should a more defensive option be needed and his engine means he can hold his own in central midfield too.
He is very similar to Stuart Dallas in that regard who is more suited to the left side of the team whereas Aina would prefer the right given the choice.
With the Northern Irishman’s own injury issues causing problems for Jesse Marsch in terms of squad depth, another versatility man could be just what the doctor ordered in January.
It would also allow Pascal Struijk to move back into the centre of defence if Junior Firpo’s almost constant problems persist when the season resumes.
In other Leeds United news, injury news from Spain is not what any Whites fan wants to hear as this problematic player suffers yet another setback.