Nottingham Forest and Leeds battle to bring Super Eagles defender back to the Premier League

The Reds only last week completed the club-record signing of Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi but have already set their sights on making a move for his international teammate

Torino defender Ola Aina is set to make a return to the English Premier League if reports coming from Italy are anything to go by.

According to a report by Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Tuttomercatoweb), Nottingham Forest are set to go head-to-head with Leeds United in the race to sign the versatile full-back.

Looking to prepare for their first return to the Premier League in more than two decades, Nottingham Forest have already strengthened their team with the acquisition of Nigerian international striker Taiwo Awoniyi last week.

Awoniyi joined from Bundesliga side Union Berlin for a club-record €20.5 million.

The Reds are not done in the transfer market, though, and are still aiming to reinforce a side that only gained promotion from the Championship through the playoffs.

One of their next targets, though, is Awoniyi’s international teammate Aina.

A Chelsea football academy product, Aina left for Torino first on loan in 2018 and permanently the following year in a deal that fetched the London club close to ten million euros.

Aina returned to England on loan at Fulham in 2020 but could not earn a permanent stay following the Cottagers’ relegation.

The 25-year-old defender, however, featured prominently for Torino in the first half of last season but lost the favour of head coach Ivan Juric after he returned from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon with the Super Eagles.

Nottingham Forest could bring him back to England, but the Reds may face stiff competition from Leeds United for the full-back’s signature.