Credit: Imago

Toby Coxon

Tue 10 June 2025 21:25, UK

Aston Villa are expected to be active in the transfer market as they look to build a squad capable of getting back into the Champions League.

As well as flashy new signings, they will also need to potentially offload some squad players to comply with PSR and fund Unai Emery’s lofty ambitions.

This has led to some of the newly promoted teams to take a look at some of their players as they look to add Premier League-proven players to their ranks.

Premier League newcomers join the chase for Alex Moreno

Leeds United are looking to build a team capable of staying in the Premier League after winning the Championship title last season.

According to Ben Jacobs, the West Yorkshire club have approached Aston Villa with an enquiry about defender Alex Moreno.

Leeds are not alone in their pursuit of the experienced left-back.

Fellow promoted side Burnley, who also achieved automatic promotion from the Championship under manager Scott Parker, are reportedly showing a keen interest in Moreno.

The Clarets will be aiming to establish themselves back in the Premier League and view Moreno as a valuable addition to their defensive ranks.

Multiple clubs from Spain’s LaLiga have also made initial approaches for the 31-year-old.

Moreno’s strong connections to Spanish football, having played for the likes of Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano before joining Villa, make a return to his home country a distinct possibility.

His familiarity with the league and culture could prove a significant draw, offering a comfortable environment for the player.

Moreno expected to command £5m fee

Jacobs also revealed that Moreno is expected to cost around £5million.

This price tag reflects his current standing at Aston Villa, where he is not a guaranteed starter, and the remaining length of his contract.

Moreno has had his playing time limited due to a series of hamstring, thigh, and calf injuries, as well as the emergence of other options within the squad, specifically Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen.

Despite this, Moreno boasts some solid Premier League minutes both at Villa, as well as his recent loan to Nottingham Forest, where he helped guide them to a European place.

For newly promoted Premier League clubs like Leeds and Burnley, £5million represents a significant investment but could be considered a fair price for a player with Premier League and European experience who can immediately contribute.

The potential for a bidding war, or at least firm competition, for Moreno’s signature now seems likely, which could drive his price up slightly as clubs vie for his services.

This competition for Moreno’s services is a good thing for Villa, who should be able to extract maximum value to add to Emery’s budget.