Alex Moreno has emerged as a target for Leeds United, with the Aston Villa left-back out of favour under Unai Emery.
Leeds United need at least one left-back, but it is increasingly looking like two will be required to bolster Daniel Farke’s ranks ahead of the Premier League season.
Junior Firpo is set to leave Leeds, per Fabrizio Romano despite the fact Firpo has been in talks with Leeds over a new deal at Elland Road.
Tuesday morning has seen a new left-back link emerge, with Leeds having held talks to sign Aston Villa’s Alex Moreno after his loan at Nottingham Forest,
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alex Moreno’s asking price set by Aston Villa amid interest from Leeds
Leeds have already been linked with six left-backs prior to Moreno’s name cropping up. They include West Ham United’s veteran defender Aaron Cresswell, as well as Wales skipper Ben Davies, and Liverpool’s Greek defender Kostas Tsimikas.
It’s possible that two or more will be brought in, given the need to have depth in the position, with Sam Byram’s future also uncertain, and very few specialist left-footed players for that role.
Moreno could be one of those, especially given the bargain price set for the 32-year-old defender. Once linked to Leeds back in 2021 (TEAMtalk), Moreno could now cost just £5 million this summer.
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Alex Crook of talkSPORT has revealed a rough valuation of £5 million for the defender following 19 appearances on loan with Forest in 2024/25 and having joined Villa in 2023.
The former Real Betis defender could be set to replace Firpo as the experienced left-sided full-back at the club for a bargain price.
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Unai Emery details what Leeds can expect from Alex Moreno as a full-back
In March 2023, Emery shared to Birmingham World what he felt Moreno struggled with when he first signed for the club. He said: “Alex Moreno is improving and is adapting well.
“At the beginning, he was struggling because of the rhythm here was hard. I remember the first match against Leeds when he came in for the injured Lucas Digne, he struggled a bit with the rhythm. Progressively, his adaptation has been very quick.”
In further comments made by Emery during an interview on Moreno, he also shared what he felt were the player’s best qualities as a left-back.
He continued: “Moreno’s best quality is his speed. In the attacking third, he is getting into the box and finding not only crosses, but passes as well — very good.
“Now, what we’ve decided for him — because of his quality I knew before from Spain — I like sometimes the one side using the right or left-back higher.
“We are doing it with the left-back higher than the right-back because to like use Moreno higher and more aggressive in attack.”