Arsenal have joined the race to sign young Chelsea defender Ola Aina, according to the Daily Mirror.
Several clubs around Europe are believed to be tracking the 19-year-old such as Everton, West Ham, Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, and now Arsenal are also in the hunt.
Aina’s deal at Chelsea is set to expire at the end of the season, and having refused to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge thus far, the young right-back has been relegated from the first-team set-up to the Under-21 side.
With Mathieu Debuchy set to leave Arsenal this month – either on a loan or permanent deal, and Carl Jenkinson’s future at the Emirates in limbo – despite signing a new deal last summer before signing a season-long loan deal with West Ham – Arsene Wenger could be in the market for a new full-back to compete with Hector Bellerin next season.
Aina has yet to feature for the Chelsea first-team but has been a regular for their Under-21 side in past seasons.
Although he wouldn’t be a player that brings experience to Arsenal, his versatility to play anywhere along the back-line, as well as youth, would be welcomed.
The England Under-21 international would also cost nothing to bring in and could be, if tutored correctly, a top player in the future.
There must be something about him if a handful of clubs are interested in him.
