Aston Villa open talks over Matty Cash replacement at Villa Park
Aston Villa have initiated talks over a move for Celta Vigo star Oscar Mingueza, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The journalist reported on Monday (6 January) that nothing is advanced but the 25-year-old is one of the Villans’ main targets in January transfer window.
The right-back has a release clause of €20million (£16.5m) [Birmingham Mail] and would provide competition for Matty Cash in the squad, something which Villa currently lack.
The Spaniard can play full-back and centre-back and has notched two goals and five assists in 17 appearances in La Liga.
Aston Villa need Matty Cash competition
The Poland international has had an inconsistent campaign at Villa Park this season, featuring in 13 of the Midland club’s 20 league games.
20-year-old Lamare Bogarde has deputised on three occasions but looked completely out of his depth in the top flight and cannot currently be trusted to start in defence.
The other option for Unai Emery is 19-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic, who has featured four times in Cash’s absence, but his development would be better served by going out on loan to get regular first-team football.
Mingueza would provide genuine competition for the 27-year-old and give Emery a reliable option that he could trust if Cash was rested or injured.
The Spaniard has more goal contributions than the Villa man this season and therefore could provide a different kind of threat as the B6 club chase a European qualification spot.
It is a deal that makes sense in both the short-term and the long-term for the Villans and Romano’s latest update is encouraging, although there is a long way to go for any deal to be finalised.
In other Aston Villa news, loan star Louie Barry could leave Villa Park on a permanent deal in January after the latest update.
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