Celta Vigo appear to have reacted in precisely the way you would expect after West Ham United showed an interest in bringing Spain international Oscar Mingueza to the Premier League.
And, if the La Liga outfit have their way, the Hammers will suffer the same fate as their claret-and-blue clad rivals.
Aston Villa held talks to sign Oscar Mingueza during the January transfer window.
Now, six months on, Hammers News can confirm that West Ham have chosen the former Barcelona defender as their leading right-back target. Head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has approved prospective deals for both Mingueza and Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf.
If Diouf is viewed as a long-term successor for Aaron Cresswell on the left, the versatile Mingueza may be seen more as an adaptable, highly-technical squad player capable of filling in across a number of defensive roles.
Though, as Spanish publication El Desmarque explain, Celta Vigo are leaving nothing for chance as they look to ward off Premier League interest for the second time in successive windows.
Oscar Mingueza during RC Celta de Vigo v CD Leganes - La Liga EA Sports
Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images
Celta Vigo hope to tie down West Ham United target Oscar Mingueza
Hammers News have been informed, by football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that West Ham initiated contact with the La Masia graduate recently. Mingueza is understood to be interested in a move to the London Stadium as well.
Now, Aston Villa are unlikely to be back in the picture after turning attention away from Mingueza in favour of another Spanish full-back during the winter. Andres Garcia would eventually move to Villa Park from Levante.
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But, with Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, RB Leipzig and Roma all linked, Celta Vigo are preparing for what El Desmarque call a ‘frantic’ couple of weeks. Retaining Mingueza, and the rest of the club’s star performers, is the priority for a club set for a return to Europe next season.
The report claims that Celta are optimistic that they can reach an agreement regarding a contract extension.
Any new deal would, presumably, remove the £17 million release clause from his current contract.
“Mingueza has one more year on his contract. We’re prioritising those [deals] that are expiring,” sporting director Marco Garces said earlier in the summer, seemingly of the belief that a departure from Balaidos is not the 25-year-old’s top priority.
“We are in talks with his representatives. I think we’re clear. He wants to stay, and we want him to stay.”
Arnau Martinez and former Arsenal man Nuno Tavares have been linked
In another plus for a Celta side who finished seventh in the La Liga table last season – qualifying for Europe for the first time since losing to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the 2017 Europa League semi-finals – Mingueza enjoys a terrific relationship with coach Claudio Giraldez.
Mingueza credits Giraldez for bringing the best out a player who recently returned to the Spanish national team selection after three years away.
According to reports in Italy, West Ham could target ex-Arsenal benchwarmer Nuno Tavares if indeed the former Barcelona starlet opts to commit his future to the Galician outfit. Arnau Martinez of Girona was mentioned in conjunction with a move to the Hammers a few days ago too.
This is not the first time Mingueza has been linked with a move to the London Stadium either. Mingueza called West Ham a ‘great team’ when their interest first emerged back in 2023.