Aston Villa are reportedly advancing in negotiations to secure the services of Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo, with plans to activate his release clause. Under the guidance of Unai Emery, the club is intent on bolstering its defensive line ahead of the forthcoming season, as noted by The Hard Tackle.
Sources from Sport indicate that Aston Villa are prepared to meet Mingueza's release clause, which would necessitate Celta Vigo allowing the defender to leave. It is crucial to highlight that Celta Vigo is obligated to remit 50% of the transfer fee to Barcelona, who previously permitted Mingueza to join Celta on a free transfer, contingent upon this sell-on agreement. Consequently, Barcelona stands to benefit by approximately €10 million from Villa's anticipated acquisition of the right-back.
The negotiations between Aston Villa and Celta Vigo have been facilitated by Monchi, who is actively seeking to negotiate a fee lower than the stated €20 million release clause. While alternative options such as Andrei Ratiu and Juan Foyth were briefly considered, it appears that Emery's primary focus has consistently remained on Mingueza. Although Marc Pubill also attracted interest, the Premier League side seems inclined to proceed with the full release clause for the Celta defender.
Emery's objective is to enhance his right-back options and reinforce the overall structure of his squad as they approach the latter stages of the season. Furthermore, Villa may contemplate offloading certain players during this transfer window, with Diogo Carlos drawing notable interest from clubs in Turkey.
Barcelona’s insistence on including a 50% sell-on clause in Mingueza's contract is poised to yield financial benefits. Celta Vigo is likely to receive the full amount of the release clause for the player, while Barcelona stands to gain €10 million from the transaction under their agreement.
For Aston Villa, acquiring Mingueza would represent a significant enhancement to their defensive capabilities, fostering much-needed competition for Matty Cash in the right-back position. Additionally, Mingueza’s inclusion would enable Emery to utilise Ezri Konsa more effectively as a centre-back, thereby broadening the team’s strategic options in central defence. This potential signing underscores Villa's ambition to strengthen their squad and compete at a higher level in the Premier League.