Nottingham Forest are now in talks with Real Betis for left-back Alex Moreno after Premier League rivals Fulham failed with an £8 million bid for La Liga ace, as reported by The Athletic.
Now, Fulham fans found out the hard way during the disastrous 2018/19 season that, sometimes, an almighty summer splurge can prove to be more of a hindrance than a help.
Moreno, should he arrive at the City Ground, will become Nottingham Forest’s ninth new face since beating Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Only three of those have Premier League experience.
And so many changes, so many reinforcements, comes with a risk. Are Steve Cooper and CEO Dane Murphy in danger of alienating a group of players who pulled up trees during a remarkable top-six charge? Can a team in transition adapt quickly enough to avoid stumbling out of the blocks?
Only time will tell.
Nottingham Forest enter Alex Moreno talks
On paper, it must be said, Moreno looks a substantial upgrade not just on the left-backs Cooper had at his disposal last season but on almost any of the left-backs who have donned Garibaldi red in recent times.
produced a combined tally of 10 goals and assists as Real Betis won the Copa del Rey and secured a UEFA Europa League spot in 2021/22. Adventurous and attack-minded, he could thrive as a wing-back in Cooper’s 3-4-2-1 system.
According to The Athletic, talks between Forest and Betis are underway. There is no agreement yet but Forest are confident that a deal can be reached. Personal terms should not pose too much of a problem either. The Athletic add that Moreno, formerly of Espanyol, is ‘open’ to joining Omar Richards, Neco Williams, Dean Henderson and co in the East Midlands.
It is not certain how much Nottingham Forest will pay for 29-year-old Moreno. But he’s unlikely to come cheap.
Fulham failed with an £8 million offer earlier in the summer (El Desmarque). Real Betis want around double that fee. Now, £16 million is a lot of money for a man who will be 30 this time next year. But Premier League survival, as far as Forest are concerned, is nothing short of priceless and Moreno will be worth every penny of his transfer fee if he can help turn that dream into a reality.
Fulham, meanwhile, have turned their attention to a younger model; Juventus’ Luca Pellegrini.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
