Leeds United have reportedly been given a valuation by Aston Villa for left-back Alex Moreno, who is now on their radar as a possible summer signing.

Junior Firpo has officially departed Leeds United following the end of his contract. The 27-year-old, who played a key role in Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League, has chosen not to renew terms. With his exit, Leeds are in need of a new left-back and have turned their attention toward Aston Villa’s Moreno. According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of several clubs interested in the Spanish defender, and Villa have set a £5 million price tag on him after listing him for transfer.

Why Aston Villa Are Prepared to Sell Moreno

Aston Villa are looking to cut down their wage bill and generate some income from fringe players this summer. With Unai Emery happy with Lucas Digne and new signing Ian Maatsen as his preferred options at left-back, Moreno has become surplus to requirements. The 32-year-old joined Villa from Real Betis in January 2023 for a fee of around £12 million and has just one year remaining on his current deal. The Midlands club hopes to recover close to half of what they paid.

Moreno’s time at Villa started well, as he immediately made an impact in Emery’s first season, helping the club to a top-seven finish and qualification for the UEFA Conference League. However, his form and fitness declined the following year. During the 2023/24 campaign, Moreno was limited to only 1,559 minutes due to injury setbacks. A loan spell at Nottingham Forest offered a brief revival, but he again found himself out of favour and struggled for regular minutes.

Now looking to relaunch his career, Moreno is searching for more consistent playing time after two frustrating seasons. At both Forest and Villa, he often played second-choice to the likes of Neco Williams and Lucas Digne, respectively.

Leeds could potentially offer Moreno the regular starting role he seeks following Firpo’s departure. However, reports indicate the Spaniard is more interested in a return to Spain. TEAMtalk claims that several La Liga clubs have been made aware of his availability and are monitoring the situation.

Real Betis—where Moreno enjoyed a productive spell from 2019 to 2022—are reportedly leading the chase to re-sign him. Other Spanish sides, including Real Sociedad, Villarreal, and Sevilla, are also keeping tabs. In a twist, all four clubs are also believed to be considering Firpo as a backup option.

While this may reduce Leeds’ chances of securing Moreno, the defender still has time to weigh his options. At 32, with his career nearing its final stages, Moreno is expected to make a carefully considered decision about his next move.