Alex Moreno has been left out of Real Betis’ Spanish Super Cup squad as Premier League outfit Aston Villa close in on a £13 million deal for the La Liga left-back, according to Diario AS.
It’s unlikely that a coach with Unai Emery’s glittering CV would have been willing to take over a struggling Aston Villa side without being promised plenty of backing and a sizeable warchest.
The pain of Sunday’s FA Cup third-round defeat to fourth tier Stevenage, then, should be offset to some extent by the news that one of Emery’s top targets is on the verge of becoming the first new signing of the post-Steven Gerrard era at Villa Park. An ambitious, eye-catching addition to mark the beginning of what could be an ambitious and eye-catching era under the four-time UEFA Europa League winner.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa close to signing Alex Moreno from La Liga outfit Real Betis
Aston Villa reportedly saw an opening bid of £10 million for 30-year-old Moreno rejected by Real Betis last week. Per AS, a new and improved offer of £13 million should do the trick, however; Los Verdiblancos reportedly accepting Villa’s follow-up bid. Around £11.8 million will be paid up front, with a further £1.2 million in bonuses. Thus, taking the fee to £13 million in total.
Moreno, AS add, was conspicuous by his absence too as Real Betis jetted out to Saudi Arabia for the revamped Spanish Super Cup. Manuel Pellegrini’s side will face Barcelona in Thursday’s semi-final, 24 hours after Real Madrid take on Valencia.
Moreno set up five goals and scored five more in 2021/22. He is back home in Seville as he negotiates the final stages of move to Villa Park. An announcement, AS say, could be imminent.
The former Espanyol wideman turned down a move to Nottingham Forest over the summer, even after Steve Cooper’s side agreed a deal with Betis. The 2022 Copa del Rey winners have been preparing for life without Moreno in recent weeks, however, identifying a number of potential replacements. His departure, then, is unlikely to take Pellegrini and co by surprise.
Incomings and outgoings at Villa Park
It could be a busy January for Aston Villa. Morgan Sanson – who scored the opening in that dramatic defeat to Stevenage – is keen on a return to France. Frederic Guilbert could follow in his footsteps.
Philippe Coutinho, meanwhile, is a target for Brazilian giants Corinthians. Club president Duilio Monteiro Alves confirmed as much over the weekend.
“There is a conversation. There is the will (to make the move happen). But it’s a very difficult business,” Alves explains. “Corinthians wants to borrow (loan). It is very difficult. It’s still very premature but you have to try.
“You can’t know (whether we can afford Coutinho). It depends a lot. We don’t have an open negotiation with the club. But, if the deal goes through, we are in a position to bring him in.”
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