Leeds United given ‘green light’ to sign Unai Emery’s first Aston Villa signing as £20m exit could follow
Leeds United are planning a swoop for two out-of-favour Aston Villa stars
Newly-promoted Premier League outfit Leeds United have reportedly been told that they can sign Alex Moreno from Aston Villa this summer if they are able to meet the Spaniard's price tag.
The Whites are back in the top-flight for the first time since their relegation in 2023 after winning the Championship title with a resounding 100 points, edging out Burnley on goal difference and finishing 10 clear of third placed Sheffield United, who have since parted company with Chris Wilder.
It marks Daniel Farke’s third promotion from the Championship and he’ll hope to avoid a third career relegation after two difficult campaigns with Norwich City. However, at Elland Road with the ownership of the San Francisco 49ers, he’s likely to receive much greater backing than he had at Carrow Road, as he aims to assemble a team equipped to cope with the demands of the top-flight.
Leeds United hope to sign Alex Moreno
According to Caught Offside, Alex Moreno is a key target for Leeds after being told that he’s surplus to requirements at Villa Park. The Spanish footballer, 32, joined Aston Villa in January 2023 for a reported figure of around £13.2m, making him Unai Emery’s first signing. He ironically made his debut against Leeds in a 2-1 victory which saw him replace the injured Lucas Digne.
Moreno impressed in his first six months in the West Midlands, racking up 19 league appearances (14 of them starts) while contributing three assists as Emery’s side rose from relegation strugglers to earn a commendable seventh place finish and a return to Europe for the first time since the day of Gary O’Neil. However, the ex-Real Betis defender, fell down the pecking order after sustaining a hamstring injury at the start of the 2023/24 season which limited him to 21 league appearances and just 10 starts.
After the arrival of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, Moreno dropped down to third choice behind Digne as well and was was loaned out to Nottingham Forest. He helped the club finish seventh and secure European qualification for the first time since the 1990s. However, he was very much a peripheral player with 15 league appearances all season and just 11 starts. Moreno made just two appearances after February and struggled to get past Neco Williams in the City Ground pecking order.
A move to Leeds could reinvigorate Moreno’s career and offer him a chance to play regularly despite competition from Junior Firpo. Farke is keen to add experience to his squad and could be able to land Moreno for as little as £5m, via a report from Football Fan Cast, which adds that he’s in his final year of his contract.
Leeds consider double Aston Villa swoop
Earlier this week, Birmingham World reported that Leeds boss Daniel Farke was keen for a reunion with former club-record Aston Villa signing Emi Buendia.
The Argentine, once signed from Norwich City for around £38m, spent the last six months of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, and has struggled to get near the starting line-up since returning from a long-term ACL injury.
Buendia worked with Farke at Norwich and is understood to be a strong target for the Whites, who are in the market for a creative No.10. Like Moreno, Buendia is in the final year of his Villa Park contract with a reported valuation of £20m being mooted by Caught Offside.