90min

Nottingham Forest agree Alex Moreno fee with Real Betis - but player wants to stay

By Jamie Spencer, Graeme Bailey

Alex Moreno briefly seemed on course to become Nottingham Forest's 13th signing of the summer
Alex Moreno briefly seemed on course to become Nottingham Forest's 13th signing of the summer / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
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Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal with Real Betis over defender Alex Moreno, although the player himself has publicly confirmed his intention to stay with his current club.

Forest have already signed Omar Richards and Harry Toffolo from Bayern Munich and Huddersfield respectively, with Toffolo starting as a wing-back flanking three centre-backs on the opening day while Richards recovers from a leg fracture.

90min understands the proposed Moreno deal with Betis is worth £9m, just shy of the £10m signing of central defender Moussa Niakhate. Taiwo Awoniyi and Neco Williams are the only other more expensive arrivals of all 12 new faces that have already come in at Forest.

Moreno recently turned 29 and has impressed in La Liga over the past few seasons, joining Betis in 2019 from Rayo Vallecano. The Spaniard is something of a late bloomer, having made only 11 top flight appearances prior to 2018, spending a number of years in the second tier.

The Catalan-born player added goals to his game last season, scoring five times in 30 La Liga appearances on top of four assists.

But upon receiving what he called an 'important offer', Moreno subsequently posted a message to Betis fans on social stating his desire to stay put.

90min also understands that Moreno’s Betis teammate William Carvalho has turned down a move to Nottingham. The 30-year-old has played more than 70 times for Portugal and won Euro 2016.

Nottingham Forest signings – summer 2022

  • Taiwo Awoniyi (FW) from Union Berlin
  • Dean Henderson (GK) from Man Utd - loan
  • Giulian Biancone (DF) from Troyes
  • Moussa Niakhate (DF) from Mainz
  • Omar Richards (DF) from Bayern Munich
  • Neco Williams (DF) from Liverpool
  • Wayne Hennessey (GK) from Burnley
  • Brandon Aguilera (MF) from Alajuelense
  • Harry Toffolo (DF) from Huddersfield
  • Lewis O'Brien (MF) from Huddersfield
  • Jesse Lingard (MF) from Man Utd
  • Orel Mangala (MF) from Stuttgart

Six of the new signings started Saturday's defeat against Newcastle, with four more on the bench.

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