Nottingham Forest appear set to miss out on another quality signing…

What’s the word?

According to The Telegraph, Steve Cooper had agreed a fee for the transfer of Real Betis’ Alex Moreno.

The Spaniard has been linked with a move to the club over the summer, and it seemed they were set to finalise a £9m move for the defender.

The medical was scheduled for this week but a deal is now off the table according to the player himself.

Fabrizio Romano relayed comments from the defender, with the journalist stating: 'Alex Moreno will not join Nottingham Forest this summer. “I want to thank the club for the proposal but I’ve now decided to continue at Betis, as this club is my home."

Proposal has been turned down and Nottingham Forest will focus on other targets.'

 Cooper would have loved him

Despite signing Harry Toffolo not too long ago, it is clear that Cooper was keen to add more attacking options to his arsenal whilst potentially seeing some players become more fluid in where they might play.

Both Toffolo and Moreno are forward-thinking, but the dynamism of the Spaniard would no doubt have excited both the manager and supporters.

With five goals and four assists last season, the 29-year-old was instrumental in Real Betis’ remarkable fifth-place finish.

Although dwarfed by the six goals and seven assists of the English defender, playing in the Spanish top-flight compared to the Championship somewhat skews the results.

Moreno may have been brought in for an instant impact given his age, and he have given way to Toffolo just as he enters his prime years.

He ranked in the top 5% for non-penalty goals last season, whilst also averaging 2.80 tackles, 2.44 blocks and 2.76 clearances. This proves his ability to defend is not overshadowed by his fine form in front of goal.

An all-around defender could have been integral in Forest’s push to avoid a relegation scrap, and again it would have offered a new dynamic should Toffolo not quite work out as planned.

Labelled a “quality” wing-back, to add some much-needed experience at the top of the game alongside some of his riskier new recruits, this could well have proven a huge coup for Cooper.

He will have loved Moreno, as the quintessential wing-back looked like an instrumental figure waiting in the wings as Cooper's side bid to escape the drop.