ASTON VILLA are reportedly closing in on a £13million deal for full-back Alex Moreno from Real Betis.
The Premier League club have been chasing down the Spaniard for weeks as they look to add recruitments in January’s window.
Alex Moreno has made 15 La Liga appearances this seasonRex
Moreno is normally a left-back but can also play left wing.
And Marca report that the deal is edging closer as Unai Emery aims to make his first signings as club boss.
Moreno is expected to cost around £13m after an £8m bid from the Midlands club was knocked back last week.
Instead of being discouraged, Villa have intensified efforts to bring the 29-year-old to the club.
Betis are expected to sign a replacement in the coming days.
But they will not get the full fee from any deal with Villa, with former club Rayo Vallecano entitled to a percentage of it.
Moreno has spent his entire career in Spain, joining Betis in 2019 after a five-year stay at Rayo Vallcano.
He also had a year at Mallorca and has spent a year on loan at Elche.
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
The defender is set to join a Villa side currently being revived by Emery who has made an instant impact since replacing Steven Gerrard.
The former Arsenal boss began his reign before the World Cup and started with stunning league wins against Manchester United and then Brighton.
Villa then lost on Boxing Day to Liverpool before a brilliant win at Tottenham.
The only major negative of Emery’s time in charge so far was yesterday’s shock FA Cup defeat to League 2 Stevenage.