Celta Vigo transfer admission amid Oscar Mingueza to Aston Villa links
by Joseph Chapman, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/joseph-chapman/ · Birmingham LiveCelta Vigo, the parent club of Aston Villa linked Oscar Mingueza, 'can only prepare for it if it happens' when it comes to the defender's future this January transfer window. Mingueza, 25, joined Vigo from Barcelona in the summer of 2022 and has played regularly in the two and a half years since.
Mingueza, who hails from Catalonia, came through the famous La Masia academy and began his senior career playing for the Blaugrana's B team before he made the step up to the first team in 2020. Mingueza made 66 appearances for Barca in those two seasons, scoring a couple of La Liga goals and helping the side win the Copa Del Rey in 2021.
He joined Vigo in 2022 for around €3m and signed a four-year contract with the club, meaning he has only 18 months left on that deal and with doubts raised over whether the defender will agree fresh terms. That could force Vigo's hand in order to ensure that they don't lose Mingueza on a free transfer in the summer of 2026.
Mingueza, who has two international caps for Spain and who was included in their preliminary squad for the 2020 Olympic Games, has scored twice in 18 games this season for Vigo, who sit comfortably in 11th in La Liga at the time of writing. A potential move back to Barca has previously been mooted, but more recently there have been links with Villa, who have lost Pau Torres to injury and could entertain interest in Diego Carlos from abroad this month.
El Desmarque in Spain report that Vigo's response to the speculation involving Mingueza's future is that they 'can only prepare for it [his departure] if it happens'. They will, though, not entertain any negotiating and will demand that any suitors meet the centre half's €20m release clause. Vigo are simultaneously preparing a contingency plan and considering potential replacements in the event Mingueza leaves this month.
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Buy your Aston Villa 150th anniversary commemorative kit
Aston Villa have released a special commemorative kit to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary - and you can get your hands on one now.
The club is continuing its season-long celebration on Friday night when Unai Emery's side host West Ham in the FA Cup. To mark the fixture, which is nearly 150 years to the day of their first-ever recorded match, players will wear a one-off black kit.
It's the colour Villa first used for their kits before the transition to claret and blue colours. The shirts will also feature adidas' Aeroready technology as well as the famous three stripes in all black.