Aston Villa defender Alex Moreno has reportedly completed his medical ahead of securing a move to join Girona this summer.
The 32-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Villa despite making such an impressive initial impression after joining us from Real Betis in January 2023, with Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen both sitting ahead of him in the pecking order.
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Having spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, it was felt that a permanent exit would be the most likely outcome this summer, and the most sensible for all concerned, and it appears as though the Spaniard is on the verge of getting his move.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Moreno has now completed his medical ahead of joining Girona, where he’ll sign a two-year contract. It’s also been reported that there will be no transfer fee involved, while he’s taking a pay-cut in order to push the move through.
Albeit it’s disappointing that we couldn’t get a fee for Moreno, assuming that proves to be accurate, it’s another important move from Villa to get a player who is considered surplus to requirements off the books as we continue to reduce our wage bill to comply with the settlement agreement terms with UEFA.
The Villa hierarchy have been busy all summer doing similar business with Philippe Coutinho and Leander Dendoncker also finally departing on a permanent basis, and although there’s a bit more disappointment with regards to Moreno given how well his time with us started, it’s the sensible move which suits both parties.
It seems merely a matter of time before Villa make it official, and so it remains to be seen if these exits now give us increased financial flexibility to bring in reinforcements of our own, as Emery’s squad certainly could do with strengthening in key areas before the transfer window deadline.
Considered in isolation though, it’s great business from Villa to avoid having to continue to drain resources through covering wages for at least another year, and it’s hoped that these moves are all helping to lay the foundations for us to have increased spending flexibility moving forward.
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