Nottingham Forest transfer fee for left-back was ‘low’, claims club president

Real Betis president Angel Haro says Nottingham Forest’s summer offer for Alex Moreno was low and he was delighted to keep the defender.

Forest, who won promotion to the Premier League last season through the play-offs, have taken a unheralded approach to the transfer window. Steve Cooper has revolutionised his squad at the City Ground, signing 21 new players.

In a remarkable transfer window Forest have smashed previous British transfer records. They topped the British record for most transfers in a single window, which was jointly held by Livingston in summer 2001 and Dundee United in 2000 on 19 signings.

And the obliterated the English record, which was Crystal Palace 17 additions in 2013.

Cooper in fact added three signings on deadline day with centre-back Willy Boly, winger Josh Bowler, and Rennes defender Loic Bade all winging in. And what’s more it could well have been 22 had Cooper got his hands on Moreno.

Of course left-back Renan Lodi may well not have arrived as cover for Omar Richards if the Betis star had signed.

Richards’ hairline leg fracture that he picked up in pre-season will rule the Bayern Munich man out for some time. Cooper though was quickly looking for a replacement and Moreno looked to be the man.

Forest had a £9m offer accepted for the left-sided defender or midfielder in August and  a medical was booked in. Spanish reports claimed there was another £3.85m due in add-ons, but Moreno had a change of heart.

The 29-year-old completed a U-turn and decided to remain in Seville.

Moreno confirmed his stay at last season’s Copa del Rey winners via Instagram. When translated, the post read: “Hello Beticos and Beticas, I want to share this message with you to tell you that Real Betis will continue to be my home this season.”

Moreno salary implications

Now Betis chief Haro has welcomed the news. And he revealed Betis would only have gained around €1m in their salary limit.

Ultimately the departure would have meant they would only have been able to offer a salary of €1m to any prospective replacement.

“I don’t regret that he didn’t leave. It was a low offer. The limit he opened up for us was minuscule, one million euros. It seemed good to me that he will stay. I’m delighted to have him with us,” Haro told Estadio Deportivo.

The LaLiga club have been working to a tight wage budget all summer. They had hoped to bring Hector Bellerin and Dani Ceballos back to the club.

That proved to be out of reach for Los Verdiblancos, who instead landed Willian Jose, Luiz Felipe and Luiz Henrique.

Moreno meanwhile has started all four of Betis’ league games and chipped in with an assist.