Reports in Spain suggest Mikel Arteta’s side could join the fight for Óscar Mingueza if he leaves on a free transfer this summer.
Arsenal are being linked with a move for Óscar Mingueza, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that Mikel Arteta’s side could be among the clubs ready to ‘fight’ for the defender if he leaves Celta on a free transfer this summer.
The report says the 26-year-old, ‘barring a surprise’, is expected to leave after four years with the Galician club, having not accepted the renewal offer put in front of him.
That has left several clubs monitoring the situation, with Arsenal described as the latest Premier League side who could enter the race. You can read more about that, and the others involved, here.
Mingueza’s appeal is obvious enough. He came through Barcelona’s youth system and progressed through every stage of La Masia before featuring for Barcelona B from 2018.
He was promoted to the first team in 2020-21 during an injury crisis at centre-back, played far more than expected, and handled that period well.
He scored his first Barça goal in a 4-1 La Liga win over Huesca, then found the net again in El Clásico against Real Madrid a few weeks later, which pushed him further into the spotlight.
Mingueza also won the Copa del Rey in 2020-21 before leaving for Celta in 2022 in search of regular football.
Though originally a centre-back, Mingueza has played extensively at right-back, left-back, wing-back and even in midfield.
He is now valued more for his versatility and quality on the ball than for pure one-v-one defending, comfortable stepping into midfield, progressing possession and reading passing lanes superbly.
At Celta, he has been used primarily on the right, whether as a full-back, wing-back or right-sided midfielder, where his crossing and passing are seen as his greatest assets.
That sort of profile would make sense for a manager like Mikel Arteta who values technical defenders capable of covering multiple roles.
Mingueza has also represented Spain at under-21 and under-23 level, winning Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020, before going on to earn senior caps as a squad option rather than an automatic starter.
He has four Spain caps but has not been included in their squads since las summer, when he played 93 minutes in the UEFA Nations League final against Portugal that they lost on penalties.