West Ham want ‘quality’ player Chelsea sold, failed with £6m summer bid

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West Ham United have been tracking Ola Aina for months could renew their interest in the former Premier League right-back during the January transfer window after failing with a £6 million deadline-day bid, as reported by All Nigeria Soccer. 

Now, Aina didn’t exactly set the world alight during his 2020/21 loan spell at Fulham; a campaign that ended in relegation.

But that has not stopped West Ham from offering the one-time Chelsea youngster a third stab at life in the Premier League. David Moyes’ side failed with a £6 million bid on the final day of the summer transfer window. 

With Aina’s contract expiring in July 2023, however, there is still a bargain to be struck in the New Year. West Ham, All Nigeria Soccer say, have been watching the 25-year-old full-back for a number of months.

And, after a difficult spell at Torino, he has forced his way back into the Serie A club’s plans, even if he was left on the bench for the late 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan last time out. 

West Ham United are big fans of Torino full-back Ola Aina

For the time being, however, Aina will be playing alongside London Stadium loanee Nikola Vlasic at the Stadio Grande Torino. Well, until January, at least. 

“Vlasic is a very strong player,” Torino president Urbano Cairo says of the Croatian.  

“I didn’t know him. (His arrival) is all thanks to (sporting director Davide) Vagnati and (head coach Ivan) Juric, who knew him very well. He has great quality and intelligence. Spectacular.” 

Vlasic scored in three successive Serie A games at the start of the season, and has a £12 million option-to-buy clause in his Torino contract. 

Perhaps West Ham could use Vlasic to get to Aina. Though whether the Hammers really need another right-back, with Vladimir Coufal, Ben Johnson and the exciting Harrison Ashby all fighting for a place in Moyes’ XI, is up for debate. 

“Ola Aina can play on both flanks,” Juric said last year, highlighting the defender’s versatility. “He has quality, can cross and dribble. There is a player there.”