Man City eye Ola Aina as a long term replacement for England international Kyle Walker

ENGLISH Premier league champions Manchester City are contemplating buying Super Eagles defender Ola Aina at the end of the season as a long tern replacement for England international Kyle Walker.

Walker, 34, is expected to leave Man City this year and has been Walker has been linked with a return to boyhood club Sheffield United, who are currently chasing promotion back to the Premier League. When Walker leaves, Man City will need to fill the vacuum and Aina, 28, is seen as the ideal replacement.

Currently playing for Nottingham Forest, Aina is in the middle of negotiating a new contract with the club, meaning that purchasing him will likely cost a tidy sum. Forest will be hoping to seal a new contract that includes a hefty buy-out clause, so they can cash in on a proposed Aina move to Man City.

Having a terrible season by their lofty standards, Man City need to make swinging changes to its ageing squad and manager Pep Guardiola has already initiated a rebuilding programme. Aina has been in impressive form for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side so far this season and is thus being targeted by City in the summer.

British tabloid, The Sun, said: "Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina is on Manchester City’s wish-list as they cast a net for Kyle Walker’s long-term replacement. Forest are keen to tie him down quickly as his contract runs out at the end of this season.

"The full-back, a product of Chelsea’s academy, has not been angling for a move and is hugely popular with City Ground fans. However, the Southwark-born star would find it hard to ignore interest from City."

In the summer of 2023, Aina joined Forest on a free transfer from Italian side Torino and went on to make 22 appearances for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side that season. As a result, Forest activated a one-year extension clause in his contact at the end of the season and are now looking to do that again.