By Dayo Awoniyi
Liverpool are reportedly targeting Nigerian international Ola Aina as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose future at Anfield remains uncertain amid reports of a move to Real Madrid.
Aina, 26, is nearing the end of his contract with Nottingham Forest and is expected to become a free agent this summer.
His solid performances in the Premier League this season—scoring twice and providing an assist in 30 appearances—have put him on the radar of several top clubs.
In addition to Liverpool, Aina is also attracting interest from his former club Chelsea, as well as Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Serie A side AS Roma.
With Alexander-Arnold reportedly considering a high-profile free transfer to Spain, Liverpool are believed to be exploring defensive reinforcements.
Aina’s versatility, Premier League experience, and impending free-agent status make him an appealing option for the Reds.
Aina has been a key figure for Nottingham Forest throughout the campaign, offering both defensive solidity and attacking support from the flanks.
His potential move could mark a significant step up in his career and add depth to Liverpool’s backline ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
