Àlex Moreno to seal permanent Aston Villa exit as brand-new loan transfer is agreed

Bryan King expects Àlex Moreno to leave Aston Villa permanently after the defender joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.

The ex-Villa scout doesn't feel as though there will be many opportunities for the left-back in the coming years under Unai Emery.

As reported by BBC Sport (21 August), Forest have signed the 31-year-old on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent.

And King - speaking exclusively to Villa News - feels as though supporters have seen Moreno play his last game for Villa.

"Ian Maatsen and Lucas Digne are both still at the club," King said.

"Therefore, chances would be limited for Moreno. As a result, the door is definitely open for him to leave the club permanently.

"Once a fee is agreed next summer he will be off, wherever that might be."

Àlex Moreno to leave Aston Villa permanently?

The decision to send Moreno on a season-long loan to Nottingham Forest was a telling one from Aston Villa.

With Maatsen, Digne and Moreno all on the books, it was clear that one player needed to be moved on.

Therefore, Emery's decision to allow Moreno to be the one to go suggests there is no long-term future for the Spainaird at Villa Park.

As a result, he will no doubt already be thinking about his future beyond this season. With Forest possessing the option to make his stay permanent, some positive performances at the City Ground could well see him stay put in the East Midlands.

Unless something dramatic were to happen to either Maatsen or Digne, it is hard to see Moreno working his way back into the fold under Emery.

In other Aston Villa news, the club have been backed to seal an "excellent" transfer for a £25million-plus defender.

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