According to reports from Mirror Football, Arsenal have joined Everton and West Ham in the race to sign Chelsea starlet Ola Aina.
The 19-year-old is highly-rated at Stamford Bridge and recently broke into England’s U21 squad. But the defender, who can slot into either full-back position or centre-half, is yet to agree a deal that will extend his current contract beyond the end of the season.
Chelsea have resultantly demoted Aina from first-team training back into the U21 fold, which Mirror Football claim has only pushed him further towards a summer exit.
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Everton and West Ham are both keen on the defensive prospect but they could soon find their interest eclipsed by table-toppers Arsenal, who view Aina as a potential long-term replacement for outcast right-back Mathieu Debuchy.
The France international is expected to leave the Emirates at some point over the next two transfer windows whilst fellow No.2 Carl Jenkinson – currently on loan at West Ham – could also be offloaded permanently at the end of the campaign.
Although a summer switch would count as a free transfer, Chelsea would be entitled to a compensation fee as Aina is under 24 years of age. Liverpool have also been linked with the Blues contract rebel in recent weeks.