By Craig Scott

14th Jan, 2022 | 5:10pm

Leeds United in talks to sign Torino defender Ola Aina, £8.3m offer can seal deal

Leeds United are in talks to sign versatile Torino full-back Ola Aina this month, according to Corriere Granata.

The Italian news outlet, which was founded by scout and FA-registered intermediary Matteo Pedrosi, reported on Twitter on Thursday that while Leeds and Torino have not agreed anything, negotiations between the two clubs are continuing.

It is understood that once Torino sign Mohamed Fares, they will be willing to listen to offers for Aina and value the Nigeria international at £8.3million.

Expensive

Leeds definitely need to add cover to the full-back positions because Cody Drameh’s loan move to Cardiff this week has left Marcelo Bielsa short.

The Leeds manager was already struggling for numbers in those positions so the decision to loan out Drameh was a bit of a nonsensical one.

However, it would make more sense if the Whites knew they were progressing in a deal to sign someone new.

Could Aina be that player?

One really good thing about the London-born Nigeria international is that he’s versatile and can play both as a right-back or a left-back.

However, this is a player who was relegated with Fulham last season while on loan at Craven Cottage and the former Chelsea defender does seem as though he’s someone who’ll cost a lot of money.

Let’s face it, £8.3million is expensive for a back-up player at Leeds as Aina probably isn’t going to take Luke Ayling or Junior Firpo’s starting spot.

Sure, he has Premier League experience, has played 21 times at international level – one of which being Nigeria’s AFCON win over Egypt this week – and made 78 appearances in Serie A.

But we’d expect more for our money and for that amount of cash, we’d expect Victor Orta to sign a starter.

In other Leeds United news, a centre-forward wants to quit his club with the Whites keen on him.