Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is reportedly pushing to land Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer this summer window.
The 27-year-old’s contract at the LaLiga club is set to expire at the end of June, alerting several top European sides to his availability without a transfer fee.
Spanish outlet AS reports that Arsenal have shown the strongest interest and are currently leading the pack in the race for Mingueza’s signature.
The Gunners’ interest is said to be primarily driven by Arteta himself, who is a known admirer of the Spanish defender’s qualities and consistency.
Mingueza came through the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona before departing the Catalan giants at the age of 22 and eventually joining Celta Vigo, where he spent four years.
Aston Villa, Juventus and Newcastle are also keen on the Spain international, meaning Arsenal will need to move quickly to secure his services.
The right-back has an impeccable fitness record, having missed only eight league games over the last three seasons, with just one of those absences attributed to injury.
That kind of durability is precisely what Arteta is looking for, given the defensive injury problems that have troubled his squad in recent campaigns.
Per Transfermarkt, Mingueza carries a market value of around £15million, making a free transfer an outstanding piece of business for the newly-crowned Premier League champions.
The search for a right-back has been prompted by growing uncertainty surrounding Ben White’s future, with several Premier League clubs reportedly interested in the England international.
Newcastle’s Tino Livramento had also been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium earlier this summer before the England international was forced to withdraw from the World Cup squad through injury.
With those concerns still unresolved, Arsenal have shifted their attention to Mingueza as a cost-effective and reliable alternative capable of slotting straight into Arteta’s setup.
Mingueza is reportedly keen to make the move to England after spending his entire professional career in Spain, which further strengthens Arsenal’s hand in negotiations.
The defender has earned four senior caps for Spain and was part of Luis de la Fuente’s squad that lost to Portugal in last year’s Nations League final.
He was not included in Spain’s 26-man World Cup squad this summer, which means he will arrive fresh and available to participate in pre-season training from the moment his contract expires on June 30.
Arteta has consistently spoken about the importance of players who contribute regardless of their role, famously calling his substitutes “finishers” and “impacters” throughout the title-winning campaign.
After the Champions League quarter-final victory over Sporting Lisbon, Arteta highlighted their contribution directly, saying: “It’s been the story of the season, how important the finishers have been for us, to achieve what we want.”
Mingueza could find himself competing with Jurrien Timber for starts, though the Dutchman has been managing his fitness carefully and limiting his minutes on the pitch.
That dynamic would potentially allow Mingueza and Cristhian Mosquera to fill important roles either as starters or impactful substitutes within Arteta’s system.
If Arsenal can sell Ben White for a significant fee and replace him with Mingueza at no upfront cost, sporting director Andrea Berta would free up funds for other priorities, with links to Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola suggesting a left-winger tops the wishlist.
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