The Telegraph claim Nottingham Forest are close to completing the signing of Ola Aina on a free from Serie A side Torino after his contract came to an end in June – amid recent reports that Leeds had been ‘pressing for months’.
London-born Nigeria international Aina, 26, moved to Torino in the summer of 2018 from Chelsea. He spent four of his five years on the books at Torino with the Serie A side – returning to England in 20-21 for a loan spell at Fulham.
The player has been regularly linked with Leeds. The Whites continue to lack a long-term solution on the left side of the defence, with Charlie Taylor being linked with a return. Junior Firpo is widely expected to leave Leeds this summer.
In March, Italian outlet Torino Granata said that Leeds wanted to sign Aina – and had been ‘pressing for months’ to get the defender in at Elland Road. West Ham were also keen. But now, Aina is undergoing a medical to join Forest.
Nottingham Forest close to completing Aina signing amid Leeds reports
Aina would have been a superb addition at Leeds. As stated, Firpo is likely to go. It is all subtly intertwined. Marseille were linked with Junior Firpo, but instead signed Renan Lodi. A player that starred at Nottingham Forest last season.
That has left Firpo at Leeds, and Forest needing a left-back. They have moved to sign a Leeds target in Aina. It is possible that Aina was more of a Victor Orta target given the last links came while the Spaniard remained at Leeds.
But still, Aina would have been a superb signing – on a free, at Championship level. But clearly, he is a player with Premier League talent and Forest have swooped. He has travelled to Spain to join the Forest squad for a medical.
