Nottingham Forest are said to be eyeing up Torino right-back Ola Aina as they step up their summer transfer business.
The Reds need to replace Djed Spence after his impressive season on loan from Middlesbrough. And they will look to strengthen at both right and left-back ahead of their return to the Premier League.
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Aina is being “closely watched” by Forest. Top-flight rivals Leeds United, who have been monitoring him for some time, are also said to be keen.
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Aina was at Chelsea as a youngster and made six appearances for the club. He had loan spells at Hull City and Torino, before making a permanent switch to the latter in 2019.
He went on to spend the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Fulham, featuring 33 times and scoring two goals as they were relegated from the top-flight. The Nigeria international now has 12 months left to run on his contract, leaving Torino with a decision to make over whether to offer him a new deal or sell him, rather than risk seeing him leave for free next year.
Forest have seen an opening bid for Liverpool’s Neco Williams turned down as they look for a replacement for Spence. An offer of £11m, with extras worth £4m, is said to have been turned down - with Liverpool wanting a larger guaranteed sum closer to £15m.
Steve Cooper's side have returned for pre-season and will soon head to Spain for a training camp as part of their build-up to the new campaign. Taiwo Awoniyi is the Reds' only signing so far, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson is set to become their second.
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