Arsenal have joined the race to sign Chelsea youth right-back Ola Aina according to the Mirror Online, facing competition from Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and Napoli for the 19-year-old’s signature.
Aina has been sent down to the under-21 side at Chelsea after refusing to sign a new deal, which will add fuel to the fire of transfer rumours regarding the England youth international. Arsenal want to lock up a pre-contract agreement so that Aina can join at the end of the season.
With Mathieu Debuchy a foot out of the door already, Aina would provide depth in a position that would lack in that department with the seemingly inevitable departure of the Frenchman. Aina, only 19-years-old, would be a bit of a curious signing as Arsenal already have two young right-backs on their books in 20-year-old Hector Bellerin and 23-year-old Carl Jenkinson, who is currently loaned out to West Ham for the second straight year.
The acquisition of Aina would likely signify the end of the road for Jenkinson’s career at Arsenal, and the 19-year-old would serve as a backup to Bellerin.
Though he has not yet had much of a look at first-team football for his current club, the flashes of potential are already there for the England youth starlet.
With so many big clubs already after him, Arsene Wenger would be wise to snatch up Aina’s signature as he would be both signing a great young player with potential and sending a message to a rival club, Chelsea, in the process.
