Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has disclosed that Alex Moreno is on the verge of leaving the club. The left-back is set to depart following the arrival of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea in a £37.5m deal. While Lucas Digne has drawn interest from other clubs this summer, he has expressed a desire to stay at Villa.
Digne was one of Villa’s most reliable players last season, featuring in most games, especially during Moreno’s extended injury absence.
According to The Athletic, Nottingham Forest is considering a loan move for Moreno, who is also attracting interest from clubs in Spain and Turkey.
“We brought in Ian Maatsen and have been in discussions with several players for this position, which has made it difficult to manage three specific left full-backs,” Emery said after Villa’s win over West Ham. “We were aiming to strengthen this area, and Alex Moreno is now close to leaving.”
Since joining from Real Betis in January 2023, Moreno has made 48 appearances for Villa. His contributions were pivotal in the second half of the 2022/23 season, helping the club secure a spot in the Europa Conference League.
Both Moreno and fellow left-back Digne have two years left on their current contracts.
