Mourinho: Ola Aina could be in the Chelsea squad next season

Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2015 by squawka.com

There is a chance that Chelsea’s young full-back Ola Aina could be involved with the first team squad next season, according to manager Jose Mourinho, per the Mirror.

This season Mourinho has regularly had Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Izzy Brown and Dominic Solanke training with the first team as he looks to aid their development.

The former made his first Premier League start against Liverpool recently whilst Solanke appeared in the Champions League against Maribor.

Mourinho: Ola Aina could be in the Chelsea squad next season
Ola Aina is very well regarded by the Chelsea coaching staff.

Now Mourinho has hinted that Aina could follow a similar path to Loftus-Cheek and train with the first team next season with the view to making his first team debut.

''If the development in the first-team is so strong, like Ruben’s, that allows him to stay in the first-team forever, perfect. If not, he reaches another level and gets another loan,” Mourinho said.

''So, for example, Ola Aina, maybe next year he’ll be in our first-team squad.”

Aina joined Chelsea as a ten year old and converted from a right-winger to a right-back during his progression through the club’s youth system.

He can also play at left-back and centre-back and has been a key part in Chelea’s all conquering youth squad over the past couple of seasons.

At the moment Branislav Ivanovic is the established first choice at right-back but he hasn’t been rested as often as opposite full-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

This is partly down to a lack of cover in that position unless Azpilicueta switches back over to right-back and Aina could provide that cover next season.