- Aston Villa are interested in signing Óscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo this summer
- His contract has less than three months remaining
- Another Premier League club are also in the picture
Aston Villa are reportedly positioning themselves at the front of the queue for Celta Vigo’s Óscar Mingueza, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his defensive options without breaking the bank.
The versatile 26-year-old, Óscar Mingueza who has become a vital cog in the Spanish side’s backline, is rapidly approaching the end of his current tenure in La Liga, with his contract now having less than three months remaining.
Despite Celta Vigo’s best efforts to retain their star man, Mingueza has reportedly turned down the club’s latest renewal offers, signaling his intent to seek a fresh challenge abroad.
This development has put Villa on high alert, though they aren’t the only ones watching the situation unfold; another unnamed Premier League rival is also said to be in the hunt for the former Barcelona academy graduate.
According to Sport Witness, the Spanish club has given up on retaining the 26-year-old due to the change of his agent. British agency Unique Sports Group is now managing him, with no fresh discussions taking place with his new representatives.
A move to England is highly likely given the location of the agency and its contacts.
Mingueza’s contract situation has also caught the attention of West Ham, as well as several other clubs.
In January 2025, it was reported that Villa were targeting the former Barcelona man, but never made an official offer. The expiration of his contract could mean they rekindle their interest.
Emery’s battle with the right-back position
Since Emery arrived at Villa Park, he has consistently targeted a new right-back to replace or compete with Matty Cash. However, no senior signing has been made.
Before Lutsharel Geertruida’s move to RB Leipzig from Feyenoord in August 2024, Villa were in discussions over signing the Dutchman. At the time, the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) forced their hand, so they could not agree on a deal.
This season, Cash has been one of Villa’s best players, putting in several good performances that he has failed to do consistently in his previous years at the club.
Although his good form, it seems the Villans still see the right-back position as an area to improve.
Mingueza profile
Mingueza offers a different profile to the Polish international. At 6ft, he is a highly versatile player who can operate at centre-back and left-back. In Celta Vigo’s 3-4-3 system, the Spaniard often finds himself at right-wing-back, being tasked with supporting the attack, but also working extremely hard defensively.
During the 2025/26 campaign, he currently has the most assists for the Spanish club with 6, alongside Iago Aspas. He is one of their primary creative outlets.
At Villa, this could be really useful, given the positions Cash can roam and find himself in.
Adding Mingueza to the squad would certainly increase the quality in defence. Having two high-level full-backs as they do on the left, with Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen, would give Emery the option to play slightly differently.
The limitations on Villa by the financial rules mean they have to be smart in the transfer window. Utilising the free agent market is a good way of bringing in top-tier players on the cheap.
For now, the recruitment team will be monitoring his progress until the end of the season. There is a chance that the two clubs could face one another in the Europa League final, giving them a closer look at how well Mingueza can play.
