Leeds United are reportedly pursuing a move to sign Torino left-back Ola Aina ahead of the January window, a player that Jose Mourinho raved about back in 2015 – claiming the then-teenager had loads of potential while at Chelsea.
Aina, 26, has gone on to become an important player for Torino and despite being born in London, he has become a regular for Nigeria. Indeed, he has clocked up 29 caps for his inherited country. But his future at Torino is now in doubt.
The left-back is out of contract at the end of the season. This term, Aina has only played 11 times – starting only eight times and completing 90 minutes on four occasions. Ahead of January, Aina is likely to be on the move soon.
Whether that is January, or next summer on a free. TuttoSport report that Torino want to keep Aina and hand him a new contract. But Aina wants to return to the Premier League, having spent time on loan at Fulham under Scott Parker.
Leeds are interested in signing him – and given Aina wants another crack at the Premier League, it is likely. Bought by Torino for a fee of £9million, Leeds could get him for a smaller figure. Mourinho is a big fan of the versatile lefty.
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Back in 2015, Mourinho was quoted by The Mail as saying: “I have Ola Aina, an 18-year-old who never played a game in the Premier League, but a boy with lots of potential. And he’s also an option.”
Leeds pursuing Aina: Mourinho raved about player in 2015
So, has he lived up to Mourinho’s comments in 2015? Arguably not. Only six outings came in Chelsea’s first team. He has played over 100 times for Torino and won plenty of caps for Nigeria, but he needs a club where he is first choice.
He would be a good signing for Leeds, but is he an improvement on our current first-choice left-back Pascal Struijk? Hardly. He would provide cover given Junior Firpo is constantly injured and that fans are already fed up with him.
