Former Chelsea star Ola Aina has been excluded from Torino's training camp amid speculation linking the defender with an imminent return to the English Premier League, a year after he was signed on a permanent basis by the Maroons, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Torino manager Marco Giampaolo has chosen thirty-one players for the preseason training camp in Biella and Aina is not part of the group.

The Super Eagles star was not involved in Torino's last pre-season game against Pro Vercelli and was made to play out of position in a midfield role in the friendlies against Novara and Pro Patria, a clear signal that he's surplus to requirements for the upcoming season.

It is believed that Aina was omitted from the training camp because he is close to joining Premier League new boys Fulham on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Since joining Torino, the 23-year-old has made 69 appearances spread across two seasons and was on target once, logging 4,612 minutes in total.

A two-time UEFA Youth League winner, Aina was on the books of Chelsea for fourteen years before his permanent move to Torino.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel