Leeds United have been dealt a potential blow in their bid to bring Ola Aina to Elland Road.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Italian publication Tuttosport, who claim that, having now fully recovered from a hamstring injury that has seen the 26-year-old ruled out of first-team action since October, Torino are hoping to tie the right-back down to a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico – with the defender’s current contract set to expire at the end of the season.
This is sure to have come as a huge blow to Victor Orta and Leeds United, as further reports from Italy last week claimed that the Whites are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Nigeria international ahead of launching a potential move for the full-back in the January transfer window – when Aina is free to discuss pre-contract terms with a new suitor.
Time to replace Firpo
Considering just how much Leeds have struggled at left-back over the past two seasons, coupled with Aina being more than capable of operating from the left flank if required, it is not difficult to understand why Orta would be interested in a deal to bring the former Chelsea starlet to Elland Road this winter.
Indeed, over his 21 Serie A fixtures – £3.6m-rated full-back highly impressed going forwards, creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.
The £30k-per-week talent also impressed in metrics more typically associated with his position, making an average of 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 1.2 clearances and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per game.
These returns saw the player who Michael Oti Adjei dubbed “unreal” average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.82, ranking him as Il Toro’s joint 15th-best player in the top flight of Italian football last time out.
For comparison, over Junior Firpo’s 24 Premier League appearances last season, the £10.3m-rated left-back made an average of 2.5 tackles, one interception, 1.3 clearances and won 4.9 duels – at an equal success rate of 53% – per game.
The £55k-per-week defender failed to offer Leeds much going forwards, scoring no goals, providing two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.5 shots, making 0.9 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.
These returns saw the 26-year-old average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.60, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s seventh-worst performer in the top flight of English football last time out.
As such, it is clear to see that Firpo is simply not a good enough first choice for Leeds heading into the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, and, considering just how impressive the €10m (£8.6m) valued Aina has been for Torino in recent years, it would very much appear as if the 26-year-old would be something of a dream replacement for Marsch this winter.