Aston Villa are at an advanced stage in their pursuit of Oscar Mingueza, as the club is set to pay his release clause in the coming days.
According to to Sport, Aston Villa are reporteldy willing to pay Oscar Mingueza’s release clause to seal the move for the defender. Celta Vigo will have no choice but to let the defender leave, and they will owe Barcelona 50% of the proceeds from the sale.
Barcelona chose to let Celta Vigo take Oscar Mingueza on a free transfer provided they accept a 50% sell-on clause condition. The club accepted it, and now the Catalans are set to receive €10 million from the sale of the right-back as Aston Villa are closing in on a deal for the defender.
Aston Villa have been in talks with Celta Vigo for the signing of Mingueza as Unai Emery made it abundantly clear the need for a new defender in the position. Monchi has been leading the talk with the Spanish side, and he might have been exploring a way to reduce the asking price from his €20 million release clause.
Aston Villa had briefly considered other options, including Andrei Ratiu and Juan Foyth, but Emery only wanted Mingueza. Marc Pubill also came into consideration, although it appears that the Premier League side are ready to pay the release clause in the defenders’s contract.
Emery is keen to strengthen his right-back position and improve the squad’s overall structure for the second half of the season. They could still allow certain departures in this window with Diogo Carlos set to move out as there’s big interest from Turkey in the Brazilian.
Barcelona to benefit from Oscar Mingueza’s sale
Barcelona’s insistence on the 50% sell-on clause in Mingueza’s contract will end up paying dividends now. As Celta Vigo are likely to get the full release clause for the €20 million-rated Spaniard, and the Catalans will get €10 million from the deal as part of their agreement.
As for Aston Villa, they get to strengthen their backline with a much-needed competitor for Matty Cash in the right-back role. The move for Migueza allows Emery to utilise Ezri Konsa more as a centre-back and improve their ranks in the central zone.
