Nottingham Forest register loan transfer interest in Aston Villa star

Alex Moreno looks to be available for a move this summer with Unai Emery well set at left-back following the £37.5m arrival of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea

Nottingham Forest are looking into a loan move for Aston Villa full-back Alex Moreno, according to reports.

Left-back is a position that Forest have been looking to strengthen all summer and Moreno is the latest name to emerge. The Athletic report that Villa are aware of Forest’s interest in the Spaniard and that the player is mulling over his options.

It seems Villa would be willing to let him go. They signed Ian Maatsen from Chelsea for £37.5m this summer and it now seems unlikely Lucas Digne will leave, meaning they are well-set for left-backs, allowing Moreno to depart.

But if Forest did move for the 31-year-old they would face competition, it seems. The report lists Besiktas, Galatasaray, Nice, Villarreal, and Moreno’s old club Real Betis among other interested parties.

Moreno played 29 times for Villa last season, making 11 starts in the Premier League as they finished fourth, and three more in their run to the Europa Conference League quarter-finals. He’s been at Villa for around 18 months since arriving for £13m from Betis in January 2023.

For their Premier League opener against Bournemouth, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo selected Ola Aina on the left of the four-man defence. The Nigerian finished last season as Forest’s regular starter in the role, having also spent some time at right-back.