Newcastle ‘race’ two Premier League rivals to sign Oscar Mingueza
Aston Villa are the latest Premier League club to show an interest in signing Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza alongside Newcastle and West Ham.
Oscar Mingueza has made his name as a reliable La Liga centre-back during his time coming through the ranks with Barcelona and now at Celta Vigo.
The four-cap Spain international was a key man for Claudio Giraldez’s side last season as he made 34 league appearances to help them finish seventh in La Liga and qualify for the Europa League.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month that Newcastle were targeting Mingueza with a cut-price January deal in the offing as his Celta contract is set to expire at the end of this season.
West Ham have joined the pack chasing Mingueza‘s services, as also revealed by Football Insider recently, but now Aston Villa also want to sign him and other clubs abroad are planning their approaches.
Aston Villa revisiting Mingueza interest ahead of January
Football Insider revealed back in January that Villa were plotting a move for Mingueza and were set to go back in for him in the summer window if a winter deal did not materialise.
They prioritised other positions before this season as Victor Lindelof was signed on a free, but Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo have now claimed that the Villans are back in for Mingueza alongside Newcastle and West Ham ahead of the new year.
Those three clubs have all “shown interest” in the 26-year-old, while the likes of Atalanta, AC Milan, Como and Marseille are all also tracking his contract situation.
Celta are believed to be “optimistic” that Mingueza will sign a new deal, while a club from Saudi Arabia has recently offered him a contract, but the defender is thought to value sporting and family stability over money so is unlikely to move to the Middle East.
Villa set for busy January window with Unai Emery targeting squad changes
Mingueza could join to bolster Unai Emery‘s backline soon, while he would also offer a versatile option as he is able to deputise at right-back and as a defensive midfielder.
The Second City outfit have been in good form as of late, but still have work to do to consolidate their place near the top of the Premier League for the rest of the campaign.
Harvey Elliott could be sent out on loan to the MLS after failing to make an impact under Emery this season, while Football Insider have revealed that Villa will accept an offer for Emi Martinez as they target James Trafford from Man City.